Sharing Memories

Jiang Yanli: Jiang Cheng’s Bargaining Chip

I feel like I said this before in passing during my first read, so I wanted to go through it more in-depth this second time around. Note that this post will not be covering the validity of xuanli’s marriage or love for each other. I will only be addressing Jiang Cheng’s change of heart surrounding his opinion of Jin Zixuan and why I think this has everything to do with Jiang Cheng’s loss of established power after the fall of Lotus Pier. Bear with me, now, as a lot of these scenes are located all over the place in the book, but with the exception of a few scenes, everything that I will be using will come from exr’s chapt. 69.

The relationship between Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan before the Sunshot Campaign is not a good one on account of Jin Zixuan’s treatment of Jiang Yanli:

Neither Wei Wuxian nor Jiang Cheng liked to play with him; only Jiang Yanli wanted to feed him the food that she made. Jin Zixuan, however, didn’t really like to pay her any attention. This made Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng yell with anger in a few instances.

This already-soured blood is what prompts the fight that ends xuanli’s engagement in chapt. 18, in which Jin Zixuan insults Jiang Yanli to Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng’s faces in a crowd of their peers. In this event, both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng are moved to violence at Jin Zixuan’s words, though Wei Wuxian ensures that Jiang Cheng never throws a punch. And although Jiang Yanli doesn’t make her feelings on the matter clear when Wei Wuxian goes to her to apologize, Wei Wuxian understands later that she “must’ve been feeling quite dejected on the inside” for what transpired. This makes me feel that, even though Jiang Yanli was nice to Jin Zixuan where her brothers (and yes, I am counting wwx as such because Jiang Yanli counts wwx as such) aren’t, neither understood the depth of her feelings until much later.

Up until this point, we have not seen xuanli actually interact with each other; that chance comes when the Sunshot Campaign happens. We can assume with the engagement broken off that Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli do not meet again until the soup incident, which is where Jin Zixuan falsely accuses Jiang Yanli of trying to steal credit from a servant, publicly chastising her after her entire clan has been slaughtered just months prior, causing her to burst into tears despite her “easy temper.” Here, we get the damning critique that Jin Zixuan “had never understood her, and hadn’t ever wanted to understand her either.” We also get the first omission of Jiang Cheng from Jiang Yanli’s defense. Only Wei Wuxian is said to defend Jiang Yanli; Jiang Cheng only shows up in the retelling to pull Wei Wuxian off of Jin Zixuan.

Fast forward to the flower banquet directly after the war ends. Because of the soup incident, Jiang Yanli refused to even give Jin Zixuan “a proper look” before Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian take her back to Yunmeng. But Jin Zixuan, in turn, immediately begins to ask after Jiang Yanli, post-war. There is no mention of whether he ever directly attempts to appeal to Jiang Yanli, herself, but he approaches Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng at his clan’s flower banquet back in capt. 49 with the intention of once more asking after her. Wei Wuxian, understandably, reacts poorly to this:

Wei WuXian heard his own raging shout, “Jin ZiXuan! Don’t you forget about what things you said and what things you did? What do you mean by this, now?!”

To which Jin Zixuan responds:

“Sect Leader Jiang—this is our sect’s flower banquet, and this is your sect’s person! Are you going to look after him or not?!”

Wei Wuxian ends up storming off, but not before Jiang Cheng chastises him and apologizes to Jin Zixuan for his behavior. He even answers Jin Zixuan’s questions and starts a conversation!

…Jiang Cheng’s voice came, “Wei WuXian, you can just shut your mouth. Young Master Jin, I’m sorry. My sister is doing quite well. Thank you for your concern. We can talk about this next time.”…

…He then began to converse with Jin ZiXuan.

This is a startling departure from his attitude towards Jin Zixuan’s transgressions against his sister in the Cloud Recesses, and while Jin Zixuan is being cordial, the Langya debacle was much more serious than his words during the lessons. Yet Jin Zixuan is the one to demand and be given an apology for being reminded of his past abhorrent behavior, whereas none was demanded (by Jiang Cheng) or seems to have been offered on Jin Zixuan’s end to Jiang Yanli for that same behavior that victimized her, not even to her brothers on her behalf. Plus, Jiang Cheng’s attitude cannot be said to be for Jiang Yanli’s benefit, as we know that she has completely removed herself from anything related to Jin Zixuan since the soup incident, and her feelings remain unchanged up to xuanli’s next in-person interaction at Phoenix Mountain, in which Jiang Yanli does not come of her own will:

Wei WuXian, “Don’t worry. As long as he doesn’t make shijie cry again, I don’t even want to pay him any attention. You shouldn’t have brought her in the first place.”

Jiang Cheng, “The LanlingJin Sect insisted on it. I didn’t have the face to refuse.”

Wei WuXian, “More like Madam Jin insisted on it. After this, she’d definitely find some way to urge shijie and that male princess to one place.”

She even seems uninterested in being there outside of seeing her brothers:

Jiang Yanli usually had an almost bland face, her features mild. However, as she saw her two younger brothers wave at her, her face immediately lit up. She lowered her fan. Shyly saying a few words to Madam Jin, she walked to the edge of the watching platform and tossed out two flowers at them.

vs.

Suddenly, a row of cultivators wearing white, gold-lined robes rushed out, dressed in light armor and riding on broad stallions…

..Madam Jin immediately patted on Jiang Yanli’s shoulder. Holding her hand, she dragged her to the edge of the watching tower again, pointing to her the riding formation of the Lanling Jin Sect.

Clearly, even if Jiang Yanli is still harboring (seemingly) unrequited feelings for Jin Zixuan, she is unwilling to entertain the thought of a relationship anymore. So why, then, would Jiang Cheng suddenly change his opinion of Jin Zixuan from a “peacock” who treats his sister poorly to “my sister loves him, so what can I do but reinstate the engagement?”

I posit that Jiang Cheng’s change is directly tied to the fall of Lotus Pier. With the Jiang massacre, Jiang Cheng is without any real power or allies of his own. The post-war Jin are very obviously amassing power, and the other three great clans are allied via 3zun’s sworn brotherhood. Jiang Cheng has no friends so cannot enter the sworn brotherhood, and his power is held in the hands of Wei Wuxian, who he can neither claim via blood relation nor use as a bartering chip since he isn’t a Jiang. So his only other option to gain an alliance to the other great clans is through Jiang Yanli’s marriage. And what’s an easier route than reinstating the engagement that was already previously an option now that the other party seems willing (and desperate) to forget the past and start anew?

Part of this is also tied up in Jiang Cheng’s own insecurities about his authority as a clan leader, which is provoked from the gossip at the Phoenix Mountain hunt. But when he begins to admonish Wei Wuxian on the behaviors brought up in gossip, he is easily diverted from it by Wei Wuxian’s nonchalance. He then turns the conversation to Jin Zixuan:

Jiang Cheng smirked, “Don’t carry your sword, then. It doesn’t matter. But don’t provoke Jin ZiXuan from now on. He’s Jin GuangShan’s only son, after all. The future leader of the LanlingJin Sect will be him. If you beat him up, what should I, the sect leader, do? Beat him up with you? Or punish you?”

Jiang Cheng is actively trying to court favor with the Jin but cannot do that if Wei Wuxian refuses to show grace to his social “betters”. And Wei Wuxian calls him out on this, particularly as his altercations with Jin Zixuan have all been in defense of Jiang Yanli:

Wei WuXian, “It’s not impossible? Have you forgotten what he did in Langya? You’re telling me that it’s not impossible?”

Jiang Cheng, “He’s probably regretting it.”

Wei WuXian, “Who cares if he regrets it. Do we have to forgive him just because he apologized? Look at what his dad’s like. Maybe he’ll be the goddamn same in the future, killing time searching everywhere for women. Have shijie be with him? You could take it?”

Jiang Cheng’s voice was frozen, “See if he dares!” After a pause, Jiang Cheng glanced at him before he continued, “But, it’s not like you have a say in whether he’s forgiven or not. Sister likes him, so what can we do?”

Jiang Cheng starts by defending Jin Zixuan by assuming that Jin Zixuan feels bad, making no mention whatsoever of any changed behavior of the other man’s that would justify such an assumption. It is only after Wei Wuxian brings up Jin Guangshan’s reputation that he even begins to defend his sister, but, once again, he pauses and pivots in defense of Jin Zixuan, this time by placing the blame on Jiang Yanli’s “feelings” for why they “must” make nice, because he knows that Wei Wuxian isn’t moved by appeals to power or reputation. Nevermind that two months prior, Jiang Yanli had chosen to leave the Phoenix Mountain hunt with Wei Wuxian, and in the scene immediately after the above conversation, Jiang Yanli is reluctant to talk about “why would someone like another person” and deflects to asking Wei Wuxian if he likes someone, instead. Reinstating the engagement is not Jiang Yanli’s present will, which only leaves Jiang Cheng’s will to consider.

Jiang Cheng’s priority when it comes to Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan’s relationship is not his sister’s feelings or well-being but ensuring that he can ally his recently demolished clan to the new leaders of the cultivation world where he has been locked out by every other avenue. And he is willing to overlook every red flag Jin Zixuan displays towards Jiang Yanli in order for this engagement to go through.

wutheringskies

Jiang Cheng’s Flawed Delegation of Blame:

Another point to be added here is how Jiang Cheng navigates through his life with a terrible entitlement. He feels entitled to promises that have been made to him, services that were promised to him, people that are bonded to him - yet, at the same time, he does not honor the promises he has made, he does the bare minimum of the service he is to provide (Wei Wuxian does remark however that most large sects were similar like that), and is quick to sever bonds when they weigh him down, instead of uplifting him.

I’d like to contrast Jiang Cheng with Jin Ling here.

When Jiang Cheng lost his parents, in his grieved state, he blames Wei Wuxian saving Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan for the cause of his parent’s deaths. He is aware that it isn’t likely true, however, even after almost two decades, when learning that the core in him was given by Wei Wuxian, he once again delegates the blame onto Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s feet.

But.

What is interesting is that the blame that lay with Jin Zixuan… is gone. As a sect leader, of course, Jiang Cheng has to make smart decisions - like allow Wei Wuxian’s defection, and marry his sister off to Jin Zixuan. However, what interested me more is that if the situation requires for it, or benefits him, he has all the capability of removing blame.

Why is it that Jin Zixuan has been long cleared off his part in Lotus Pier’s fall and Lan Wangji hadn’t, in Jiang Cheng’s books? Both of them had done the same thing. Jin Zixuan had been the one to actually speak up. Lan Wangji had stayed back in the cave of Xuanwu and kept the Jiang Sect’s Head Disciple alive.

I feel like there are multiple reasons.

1. Social Standing

The GusuLan Sect is strong and renowned for its righteousness. However, the LanlingJin Sect is stronger, richer and can control the sway of public opinion better. Secondly, Jin Zixuan is the sole legitimate heir of LanlingJin. However, Lan Wangji is the Second Young Master. Also, he neither acts nor is expected to act as Sect Leader or dip his toes into political pools. All in all, his position is like Nie Huisang - he may do whatever he wishes, enjoy his privileged life, etc.

Jiang Wanyin is the sole male hier of YunmengJiang. By the manner of social standing, his is above Lan Wangji’s. However, Lan Wangji’s prestige reputation as the second jade, his competency, his looks, his stringent righteousness has put him up a step and I do believe that is one of the reasons why Jiang Wanyin dislikes him. He doesn’t like feeling inferior to anybody, much less to some rapunzel sorta guy who’s never left his “tower.”

In the book, while talking about Jin Guangyao, Wei Wuxian remarks how he is a better leader than Jin Zixuan. But Jiang Cheng responds that he’s still the son of a… and will only ever come up to “greeting guests.” And how, Jin Zixuan is the rightful heir. Wei Wuxian remarks that Jiang Cheng seems to be almost praising Jin Zixuan.

What I infer is an attitude like, sure, he’s an ass but he’s greater, simply because he’s born great. those with talents or extreme competency cannot compare.

Similarly, no matter how strong and dashing and righteous Lan Wangji is, he will only ever be an heir. The Lan blood line will be expected to continue with Lan Xichen'a blood. Thus, he feels superiority over Lan Wangji, and yet feels inferiority due to his… you know, Hanguang-jun-ness.

Thus, laying the blame on Lan Wangji is all the more convenient. You stepped out of your way, despite all your talents and now it is your fault everything is wrong in my life.

2. Political Gains

Once again, laying the blame onto the Second Young Master might not lead to inter-secr struggles if the sect isn’t aware. Lan Wangji also isn’t petty enough (or is he, jk, he is not) to let people’s personal grievances with him affect sect business.

On the other hand, Jin Zixuan is, once again, the sole hier. He is also not, you know, the second jade, hanguang-jun etc, but like a normal good cucumber. If Jiang Cheng pisses him off, he might do more than glare icily and ignore his entire existence.

Secondly, is the prospect of allying with the Jins via the marriage of Jiang Yanli. Access to gold. He does not wish to fuck that up.

Thus, since the blame laid on everyone’s feet was laid wrongly in the first place, similar to digging out holes on the beach and letting the waves wash over until the holes are even again, he can retract the blame easily.

3. Inferiority

This one, I feel, is really important. Firstly, Lan Wangji got stuck with Wei Wuxian and killed the Xuanwu, which is a really big thing. Jiang Wanyin had to do the thankless, heavy task of rescuing. In the wake of the glory that was bestowed upon Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian (one compliment that Wei Wuxian dodged lmao), his own role was looked over.

Of course, we as readers are like, dude, Wei Wuxian held that sword for so long, Lan Wangji held the strings for so long, they almost died. But these characters are children - even the role that Jiang Wanyin performed was difficult, scary and tiring. Regardless, he felt deeply insecure about this.

On the other hand, Jin Zixuan had to perform a task similar to him - there must have been a light sense of understanding or comradeship Jiang Cheng felt towards him.

4. Hatred of Wei Wuxian

Wei Wuxian hates Jin Zixuan for reasons such as: flaunting his gold, not being agreeable, being insulting with a sharp tongue, hurting Jiang Yanli and humiliating her.

Except for the last one, the rest are also personality traits of Jiang Wanyin. Also, Jiang Wanyin is terribly misogynistic, stating be believes Yanli had three places to be - the kitchen, the bed room and the ancestral hall. Wei Wuxian isn’t misogynistic and always makes fun of Jiang Cheng when he’s like that.

Wei Wuxian loves Lan Wangji because he’s righteous, he considers no task beneath him, he is unafraid of being punished or his reputation being tarnished, he doesn’t speak unnecessarily. Also, he is affectionate towards Wei Ying.

All of these are traits that are the direct flip of Jiang Wanyin.

Another thing we can agree upon is that after the events of Wei Wuxian’s first life; Jiang Cheng hates him.

Thus, any remnant blame that lay with Jin Zixuan lies doubly on Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Jiang Cheng hates whatever Wei Wuxian likes, or whatever likes Wei Wuxian.

Jin Ling’s Attitude

As I mentioned, I’d like to contrast Jin Ling’s attitude towards the people who were responsible for the death of his parents.

For the death of Jin Zixuan, Wei Wuxian is the one who holds the most blame. Wen Ning is the direct cause of death. Jin Guangyao is the one who set up such a difficult situation out of which nothing good will come. Jin Zixun is the one who hounded Wei Ying without any proofs. Su She is the one whose actions led to all this.

For a child, all of this must be so complex to understand. What matters is that his father was gone.

Secondly for Jiang Yanli, I do believe Jin Guangyao had to do with how she came into the battle. Yet her death was chosen by her as an act of sacrifice. The sacrifice was made for Wei Wuxian.

Of course, growing up with Jiang Cheng, he must have despised Wei Wuxian. And he had reasons to. He could’ve chosen to never forgive him. However, he extends his empathy, realizes just how impossible the situation was and comes to the conclusion:

He can’t hate Wei Wuxian, so he will hate Wen Ning twice.

But then, Wen Ning saves him. He can’t hate Wen Ning. Things are revealed. It’s also Jin Guangyao’s fault.

But he still mourns him. Not the uncle who killed his parents but the uncle who gave him fairy and taught him to be nice. These are such complex realizations to be had and Jin Ling feels despair, were my parents simply meant to die?

Yet, he doesn’t close himself off. He doesn’t throw around the blame. He likes Wei Wuxian. He doesn’t hate Wen Ning. He will not hate Jin Guangyao. His parents died tragically. He accepts that, accepts all of their hands in it, and works hard to improve his sect.

From Jin Ling, we see forgiveness. We see improvement. We see growth. He doesn’t lay the blame at unnecessary or dead people. He doesn’t make it bigger than it is. He doesn’t move the blame around for his convenience, doesn’t wield it like a knife. He stabbed Wei Ying once and he didn’t like how he felt. He moved over it.

Thus, my point is, Jiang Cheng dishonors the sacrifices that were made, the prices they paid for their laxness, the memory of his parents by making ia a knife he can use to throw around blame, and demand reputations or instill debts that were long paid. I remember when Wei Wuxian asked this guy on The Second Seige of Burial Mounds, something like, what do you want me to do? I died a tragic death. You say i broke your leg. My body was torn into pieces. You say I killed your parents. I’ve never seen the ashes of my parents.

I’ve seen people feel that Wei Wuxian owed them something forgetting that they… had gathered into Nightless City to kill him and the Wens; and that they were the ones to came to kill him first.

Similarly, Jin Ling realizes all this and dissolves the blame, sets himself free. Jiang Cheng holds on and that is his tragedy.

mxtxfanatic

I think the main point of divergence here is that despite having been raised by Jin Guangyao and Jiang Cheng and having his father’s terrible attitude and temper, Jin Ling is, first and foremost, his mother’s child at his core.