Thread by @luuuunadiane

GEGE JC AU. GEGE JC AU. CANON FIX IT GOOD TIMES ONLY

The birth of the Jiang Fengmian's first child is met with much fanfare and congratulations. Madam Yu has borne a healthy son, a heir to secure her husband's line, the infant with his father's clear eyes and the face of his mother, down to the tiny frowns on his face.

Jiang Cheng grows up to be the picture of his mother, longing for his father's affection and treasuring each scrap of attention the man gives him, even if it is merely a passing comment of "as expected" when Jiang Fengmian is told of his son and heir's excellent progress in

the Six Arts and cultivation. Fathers are hard on their sons, and as heir, Jiang Cheng is drilled on the importance of his duties and obligations to Yunmeng Jiang since birth. Women are maternal and men distant, as is the natural way of things, and at least Niang smiles at him,

cares for him, as he works tirelessly to be the good son, to improve his skills and make her proud.

Niang's second pregnancy is much easier than her first, something she teases him about, and after nine months a darling baby girl is born, of an easy, sweet nature,

the birth of the Violet Spider's first daughter, a new princess of YunMeng Jiang widely celebrated, for with a male heir to secure the line, any daughters to follow are treasures of the family to be protected. Jiang Cheng has his infant sister placed into his grasp, little arms

arranged to hold her securely, and is told that he is an older brother now, with the responsibility of protecting his meimei. As with everything entrusted to him, he nods solemnly and takes it to heart, vowing to love and care for her to the best of his ability.

Jiang Fengmian is delighted with his younger child and first daughter, a gentle, dear little princess, playing and embracing her more than he ever did his son. Jiang Cheng rationalizes this as natural, his little sister Yanli is to be loved and cherished, smiling himself at the

joy on her guileless, innocent face and when she squeals at being picked up by her older brother. As a girl, of course she is more affectionate and ready to show it - even though Niang was never as sweet as her. Yet Jiang Cheng's heart is warmed by hugs from his little sister,

and though he was embarrassed the first few times his toddler sister dragged him into her games of tea parties and playing house, it is not an uncommon sight to see the proud male heir to YunMeng Jiang with his long hair in braids, ribbons and flowers after his meimei is done

with him, dutifully playing the part of tea party guest or father to all of Yanli's dolls and toys, a glare ready for any onlooker who dares to laugh at him. The residents of Lotus Pier smile nonetheless, at the heartwarming sight of an older brother doting on his little sister.

When Wei Ying is taken in by Jiang Fengmian, despite Yu Ziyuan's anger at a potential bastard, Jiang Cheng in his seniority has long been established as the heir to YunMeng Jiang, so any chance that Wei Ying would take over the position is lesser. Yet, not entirely impossible.

Jiang Cheng's dogs, given to him at a much younger age, are fully grown now, and scare the skittish, filthy child even more. When Jiang Fengmian orders the dogs to be given away, Jiang Cheng's heart twinges, but he cannot disobey his father - whose rationale is sound. Wei Ying is

the same age as Yanli, and Jiang Cheng cannot help but feel sympathetic at how terrified the younger boy is. He nods at his father's command despite his mother's anger - as much as it hurts, he's spent years with his beloved dogs, and Wei Ying's sense of security is much more

important. Already in his heart he is beginning to see Wei Ying as a younger brother, a child to be protected, and it is his duty and responsibility to do so. "I will get rid of the dogs, A-Die." Jiang Cheng says, calling the dogs to heel and to follow-

and takes them out of the Jiang family residence to a trusted canine trainer in Lotus Pier to house the dogs - he can always come back some other day to see his pets.

Being of different genders, Wei Ying naturally cannot room with Yanli - and Yu Ziyuan has a new fear of the boy

being married to her darling daughter. Yanli takes care of her new brother nonetheless, delighted to have a playmate and friend her age, and Wei Ying is initially wary of Jiang Cheng at first, but upon learning that Jiang-xiong gave away his dogs just because Wei Ying had been

scared of them, almost immediately starts to see him as someone to be trusted. While serious and frowning, he soon sees the older gege's softer side towards Yanli, stars in Wei Ying's eyes when he watches the older gege train in the courtyard, dutiful and composed and solemn.

(wwx absolutely gets a precocious crush on gege jc)

The short-tempered, blunt and serious Young Master Jiang with two little ducklings following behind him - Young Mistress Jiang Yanli, and Jiang ward Wei Ying 😌 pestering him, clinging onto his legs - "Jiang-xiong! Jiang-xiong! Play with us!" Wei Ying yells

"Brat, I'm busy! Go play with meimei!" Jiang Cheng swats Wei Ying, but at Yanli's puppy eyes, acquiesces anyway, and this song and dance repeats itself - being an older brother, Jiang Cheng learns how to be gentle, especially for sweet-natured Yanli

even as Yu Ziyuan fumes to her son that she's certain her husband intends to marry Yanli to Wei Ying, and she will only allow that to happen over the dead body - almost immediately arranging for Yanli to be betrothed to the male heir of Lanling Jin, son of her sworn sister-

and Jiang Cheng is immediately wary of that Jin brat upon knowing he is betrothed to precious meimei Yanli, while looking at his mother in conflict - surely A-Die will not marry Wei Ying to Yanli? They are like siblings, after all

Yet Yu Ziyuan would command her eldest son to

protect Yanli against Wei Ying, the older they grow, even though Jiang Cheng does not believe that would actually happen, as Yu Ziyuan forces her husband to accept Yanli's betrothal, and Jiang Cheng cares too much for Wei Ying as a younger brother

Wei Ying proves to be a prodigy in cultivation, progressing in leaps and bounds despite his young age, becoming YunMeng Jiang's Head Disciple - even as Yu Ziyuan harbours fears that Jiang Fengmian will replace Jiang Cheng with Wei Ying, the likelihood is so much lesser this time,

with Jiang Cheng's seniority, years of practice and experience over Wei Ying, the older brother only feeling pride and affirmation for his shidi. Wei Ying is uninterested in all other aspects of running a sect which are drilled into Jiang Cheng over and over, either way, content

in his carefree role as shidi and disciple while Jiang Cheng is groomed for the role he was born for.

Jiang Cheng being sent to the Cloud Recesses to study for a year, as any cultivator worth their salt will eventually do, and his younger siblings cling to him before he leaves

"Don't go, Jiang -xiong!" Wei Ying begs, tears in his eyes, "It'll be so boring without you!"

"Brat, I know you'll be getting into all sorts of trouble now that I'm away." Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. "Be good. Don't anger Niang." he says, already resigned to knowing that

Wei Ying will be even more uncontrollable in his absence, and bends down to accept Yanli's hug. "Don't worry, gege, I'll keep A-Ying in check." She says with a smile, and Jiang Cheng pats her hair. "Good girl, A-Li. See, even your meimei is more mature than you." He lectures Wei

Ying, who just giggles.

Jiang Cheng goes to the Cloud Recesses - studying with other students around his age, namely the other heirs of the Great Sects - Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue, and for the first time in his life, is the junior.

(image of meimei Jiang Yanli doing her gege and shixiong's hair up in braids with lotus flowers and ribbons as Wei Ying runs around happily proclaiming how pretty he looks and Jiang Cheng barks out 'men aren't supposed to be pretty, Wei Ying!' until Yanli looks at him with big

eyes - "do you not like it, gege?" and he immediately falters at her trembling lips and unsure expression - "Of course, meimei." and she cheers up immediately, from then on Jiang Cheng never says anything to disparage Yanli prettying them up)

The year that Jiang Cheng studies in the Cloud Recesses is Lan Qiren's favourite year of teaching then and forever - the esteemed heirs to three Great Sects all in the same year, all strong, skilled and dutiful, dedicated to their roles and earnest in their studies -

Gusu Lan's own diplomatic and friendly Lan Xichen, Qinghe Nie's aggressive, just and outspoken Nie Mingjue, and Yunmeng Jiang's blunt and abrasive yet gruffly caring Jiang Wanyin, all of which compete for top marks and snatch the top three places in each test.

Lan Xichen smiles at the soft lilac handkerchief Jiang Wanyin carries, embroidered with pink lotuses - the first time the Jiang heir has to use it, he automatically smooths his thumb over the embroidered lotuses and proclaims that it is his little sister's work, as is the

intricate flower knot in pale pink that adorns his silver clarity bell, a feminine touch on the prickly Jiang heir. Nie Mingjue, raised in the Unclean Realm, cannot endure an entire year vegetarian, and so constantly drags the other two boys to Caiyi Town for meat and wine

whenever possible, and the Jiang and Nie heirs get roaring drunk while Lan Xichen watches with a cup of tea. He is actually inebriated once, but thankfully both Jiang Wanyin and Nie Mingjue get blackout drunk and forget the entire incident. Lan Xichen then learns to dispel the

alcohol with his golden core the next time he drinks. All three older brothers commiserate over their younger siblings, Jiang Wanyin and Lan Xichen getting into a polite and playfully passive-aggressive fight over whether Wangji or Wei Wuxian has the better skills, while

Nie Mingjue grumbles about having a lazy brat for a younger brother and hopes their siblings will be as good of friends as they are, or at least have a positive influence on Huaisang.

Jiang Wanyin and Nie Mingjue get along like a house on fire, both aggressive and direct, hardly a conversation ending without a friendly spar or arm-wrestling competition to compare their strengths-Lan Xichen always wins at arm wrestling, so they stopped challenging him to them.

"Jesus fuck, Xichen-" Jiang Cheng automatically swears, arm almost dislocated by the Lan heir in their latest, ill-advised competition- "how did you get so strong?!"

"Copy Gusu Lan rules while doing one-armed handstands, and you'll see." He smiles sweetly, and of course,

both Jiang Wanyin and Nie Mingjue immediately compete in that next. Nie Mingjue turns out to have the least balance among all of them and Jiang Wanyin triumphantly completes a one-armed somersault, glad that the Nie heir had eventually wobbled and fallen, because Jiang Cheng

was just about to exhaust his stamina. If Mingjue had better balance, he would have beaten Jiang Cheng easily with his greater physical prowess.

And if Lan Xichen admires Nie Mingjue's broad form or Jiang Wanyin's sharp, elegant features more than he should, he keeps it secret.

As etiquette and respect commands, Jiang Cheng addresses the other heirs as "Nie-xiong" and "Lan-xiong", even though he is the same age as Lan Xichen, the First Jade of Lan is still a few months older than him.

"Jiang-di." Nie Mingjue smirks, and Jiang Cheng glares at him.

the brainworm that led to this

https://twitter.com/luuuunadiane/status/1306931806805962758

https://twitter.com/luuuunadiane/status/1307290636530233345

https://twitter.com/luuuunadiane/status/1307296134453293056

Jiang Cheng is affirmed in his actions - forming alliances with other Sect Heirs is excellent for positive future Sect relations - but more than anything else, he is glad to have formed friendships among the two boys he had often seen across discussion conferences, but not given

the chance to interact until finally studying in the Cloud Recesses. They part once their classes draw to an end, determined to keep correspondence, in which plenty are exchanged the year after, when Nie Mingjue's father dies and he ascends to the position still a few years shy

of becoming of age. Jiang Cheng sends back his condolences and insistent lines of encouragement in reply to Nie Mingjue's despondent letter, promising to speak to his own Sect Leader father regarding lending support to the fledgling Sect Leader Nie - which he does, and

Jiang Fengmian is completely agreeable, seeing as it concerns inter-sect harmony and relations.

Yanli and Wei Ying, now Wei Wuxian, together with Niang, welcome him warmly back, and Wei Wuxian pesters him about stories regarding the Cloud Recesses. "You'll go there with Yanli

when you're old enough in a few years," and then smirks, remembering what Xichen and Mingjue said about their younger siblings - "You'll have the Second Jade of Lan in your cohort, probably be friends."

"Why is that, shixiong?" Wei Ying asks, smiling. "Is he a fun person?"

From what he saw of Lan Wangji, the same age as Wei Wuxian yet his polar opposite, silent, dour and entirely obedient - Jiang Cheng could not wait to see Xichen's brother meet his loud, rambunctious shidi, who would immediately start to tease and cajole a reaction out of him.

He knows Wei Ying too well. "I suppose you'll have fun when you meet him." Jiang Cheng says with a knowing look.

Wei Ying will definitely cause some mischief that will have Lan Qiren writing angry letters back to A-Die, but A-Die is entirely too lenient on Wei Ying and will

most likely ignore it. Jiang Cheng makes a mental note to lecture Wei Ying thoroughly on proper behaviour before he leaves for the Cloud Recesses, though. But for now-

"Jiang-shixiong! Did you see any pretty girls at Gusu?!"

"I was studying, brat! Like I had time for that!"

(gege Jiang Cheng feeling down, batteries low:)

(babie yanli and wei ying seeing gege looking sad: gege/shixiong!! what's the matter! don't be sad! here we'll hug you!)

(gege Jiang Cheng cheered up by his cute younger siblings, batteries fully charged)

Jiang Cheng buying gifts to bring back home to his younger siblings while in the Cloud Recesses - a hairpin and comb in the gusu style for Yanli, a finely crafted dizi for Wei Ying, given Gusu Lan's specialty in musical cultivation and instruments.

Over the years, Jiang Cheng has learnt how to interact with his father. Jiang Fengmian is a diplomatic, soft-spoken man, his instinct to calm the troubled waters of disagreement that arise during Discussion Conferences, dedicated to his duties and to the upkeep of the Sect,

keeping everything running smoothly without so much as breaking a sweat. Jiang Cheng aspires to be like him, to rein in his sharp tongue that only drives people away and scares the juniors, incurring his father's disapproving frown. He knows he still has a lot to learn - and that

A-Die never fails to be cheered up by Yanli or Wei Ying. So Jiang Cheng never fails to speak of his younger siblings in the presence of his father - mentioning a funny anecdote about Wei Ying, handing them his gifts from Gusu, right after he returns from the Cloud Recesses,

praising a particularly clever feat Wei Ying did during his training (but never in front of A-Niang, who sees it as Jiang Cheng putting himself down in front of 'another woman's son' - and Jiang Cheng dares not to speak against his mother but Wei Ying is just a child-) or

thanking Yanli for something thoughtful she has done. A-Die's smile for his younger siblings never fails to cheer Jiang Cheng up, warmed by the knowledge that his father is pleased, is proud of him (even if never spoken) for being a caring older brother, and the elder Jiang heir

unconsciously chases his father's expression whenever he is near - even a smile from a distance away is reward enough.

Yanli is always a safe topic to speak of when both his parents are near - but Wei Ying is reserved for when Niang is not around. Her wrath turns the atmosphere

raw and ugly, demanding that A-Die speak when he clearly loathes to, making his younger siblings uncomfortable. It is best to remain his usual reserved, harsh self toward Wei Ying when Niang is around.

When Wei Ying and Yanli are finally of age and A-Die wants to send them to the Cloud Recesses - Niang glares and declares that Yanli will not be going. "Niang, why?" Yanli asks with wide eyes. "The two of your are not allowed to be alone together." She snarls, "especially away

from Lotus Pier."

Jiang Cheng frowns. He knows what this is about - Niang's fears that Yanli will be married off to Wei Ying, and, both away from Niang supervision at Gusu, that - something - might happen between both of them, as absurd as it sounds.

"You overthink, my lady." A-Die cuts in. "The Cloud Recesses separates students by gender-" A point Jiang Cheng was just about to make, "and they are very stringent about forbidding interaction between both groups."

"Rules! You think the brat cares about rules?" She barks,

throwing a sharp, accusing glare at Wei Ying, who shrinks further into himself and bows his head. "I don't care. Yanli will be going the year after and not with Wei Ying."

"But Niang, surely she cannot go there alone." Jiang Cheng points out. "Wei Ying would be able to protect

her, as her shixiong."

"Is he the only disciple we have?" Niang says sarcastically. "Are we not a Great Sect? Yanli will not go to the Cloud Recesses BY HERSELF." Her tone is sharp with derision, "she will of course be escorted by female Jiang discples-"

"-when she attends classes the year after Wei Ying."

"But Niang-" Yanli begins-

"You dare talk back to your mother?"

His little sister quietens down, thoroughly chastised, looking as miserable as Wei Ying. A-Die has a worryingly dark look on his face and Jiang Cheng knows this

will spill over into yet another argument with Niang. his siblings and him will pretend not to hear. "My lady-"

Unable to bear the unhappiness on his siblings' faces, Jiang Cheng interrupts - "How about," He suppresses a wince at his rudeness, "We send our female Jiang disciples

together with Wei Ying and Yanli. Both of them are the same age, they should be attending the Cloud Recesses together, but Yanli will have the extra-" He glances at Niang, "-protection."

Niang shifts her disdainful, scathing glare to him, and Jiang Cheng lowers his eyes.

"Yes, that is a good idea." A-Die says, and Jiang Cheng's gaze snaps to A-Die's lighter expression of approval, and then to the hopeful faces of his younger siblings, and feels his shoulders relax and his spine straighten in relief.

Niang scoffs bitterly, unable to refute.

When the day comes for his younger siblings to go to the Cloud Recesses, Niang's searing gaze ensures that Yanli is surrounded by a group of female Jiang disciples accompanying them on the pier, as they await the boat that will take them there. Niang had ordered the disciples

to never leave Yanli's side, to separate her from Wei Ying, but Jiang Cheng knows how fruitless of an effort that is. His siblings are joined at the hip.

"A-Li, have a good time at Gusu. Their food is terrible, but at least there's Caiyi Town. Take care of meimei, Wei Ying,

don't make trouble for our sect," Jiang Cheng says to them, gaze narrowed at his shidi, who grins sheepishly, knowing he absolutely would, "If anything comes back to Niang I'm not saving your ass."

"Don't worry, gege, I'll make sure A-Ying behaves." Yanli smiles.

Of course, in the first week, A-Die receives a letter from Grandmaster Lan that Wei Ying was caught smuggling alcohol into the Cloud Recesses by Lan Wangji and similarly punished, which A-Die smiles at in amusement (and so does Jiang Cheng, even though he rolls his eyes.)

Niang is angry, of course, but such a small matter will surely blow over quickly, being handled by A-Die's indulgent hand as it already is From his letters with Xichen, Yanli and Wei Ying are always seen together once classes are over and guest disciples can mingle again, as

Jiang Cheng predicted. They've also picked up Nie Huaisang to form a trio, something that Mingjue ends up writing snarky letters to him about and calling Wei Ying a bad influence on his younger brother, now that they all know about the alcohol incident.

[Isn't Huaisang repeating a second year at the Cloud Recesses, since his grades were so poor?]

Jiang Cheng sarcastically writes back.

[I'd be more concerned about Huaisang being a bad influence on my younger siblings than the opposite.]

Wei Ying's letters were full of colourful complaints about the cold shoulder and silent threats the Second Jade was giving him, mixed with lyrical waxing about the other boy.

[Well, what did you expect after getting him into trouble, brat?] He writes to his shidi.

Xichen writes to him about how Lan Wangji was similarly punished with Wei Ying during their scuffle, since he had fallen outside of the walls of the Cloud Recesses despite trying to uphold curfew.

Shit, Jiang Cheng thinks, [there goes our hopes that they'd get along.] He writes.

[Actually, I believe that Wangji enjoys Young Master Wei's company, and I will certainly encourage their friendship.] Xichen cheerily replies in his letters.

The Lan heir is kind, reasonable, diplomatic and considerate but Jiang Cheng can't fucking understand him sometimes.

(GEGE TRIO SENDING LETTERS BACK AND FORTH WHERE NMJ AND JC ROAST EACH OTHERS' LITTLE SIBLINGS WHILE LXC WRITES THE EQUIVALENT OF ^_^ IN HIS LETTERS)

(Xichen absolutely figures out that Wangji is attached to Wei Ying, but even as Wei Ying sends Jiang Cheng letter after letter about the Second Jade of Lan, Jiang Cheng has no idea his shidi is crushing on Lan Wangji. Why? Because Jiang Cheng is Dense and it's funny, that's why)