“Don’t worry about it. I was already awake.” Jing Yuan
Jing Yuan's reassurance is minimally effective. While he's glad he didn't disturb him, Dan Feng's tail swishes behind him. "You need to be resting," he complains. The general smiles gently at him, fond amusement and mischief painting his features.
"But I am not," he replies.
"But you aren't," Dan Feng snaps. Jing Yuan's smile doesn't falter. Dan Feng is first to look away, gaze shifting pointedly to the nearest window before softening at the reflection in it.
"What were you out looking for? Perhaps I can be of help," Jing Yuan says.
"No." He shakes his head. He can't ask him to help retrieve anything even remotely related to his time as high elder. Or prisoner. Really anything to do with their past is out of the question. "You've done more than enough. I just need you to be well. That's all."
"I'm feeling better already."
Frankly, Jing Yuan is lucky he's already so preoccupied; he doesn't even grace that with a response. Part of Dan Feng is so grateful for the light-hearted banter that he could kiss him, but a far larger part of him is distraught at the state of his research, his collections, his home. He ruined it. All of it. And he knew that, yet... The air grows thick and humid around them as he thinks of all the loss.
"They destroyed it all. Or locked it away. It's all gone," he all but growls, pitch rising into more of a pathetic wimper, tail curling around himself. "I'm not a fool. I didn't expect to get anything back, I just-..."
His friend walks towards him with slow, careful steps, until they're standing shoulder to shoulder. "Have you eaten or slept recently?" he asks quietly.
"You are so... diplomatic," Dan Feng hisses.
"You know where I stand. My home is open for you, Dan Feng. My staff will attend to you if you should need them. Yet, it's the middle of the night and you keep trying to pick a fight with me. Was the shackling prison not punishment enough for you?" Jing Yuan rumbles. He flinches not at the harshness of the general's words, but the emotion bubbling behind them.
"Give it time. You will find more allies than you expect. Take Yanqing to the market tomorrow, and while you're gone I'll see what I can do. Might as well, with Diviner Fu acting in my stead."
Evidently, Dan Feng's will is weaker than it used to be. He sighs. "I can't stop you."
"You're catching on." The playfulness returns to the general like nothing had ever happened. Perhaps nothing did.
"I don't want them to hurt you." Or me. But if they know me, and they do, they will get to you first.
"The preceptors have been dealing with me for centuries now. I'll be alright," Jing Yuan insists. He's so confident Dan Feng almost has no choice but to believe him, skeptical as he is. If there is anything the both of them are experienced in, it's being a thorn in someone's side. "I trust Yanqing to keep you safe in the meantime. Just... Do your best to keep the number of purchases he makes to a minimum. If his sword collection expands into another room, there won't be anywhere for you to sleep."
It's a bit of a joke, but it seems like there's more truth in it than Jing Yuan wants to admit, and having met the young lieutenant even briefly, he can believe it. So, if he wants to secure a place in the general's home, he must be the one to chaperone Yanqing while Jing Yuan takes up the gargantuan task of confronting the preceptors for whatever remains of his personal possessions. Dan Feng has the distinct feeling that he just doesn't want to tell his son no, and this is his ticket out. Like young knights swapping their least favored chores. It's so absurd, he has to laugh. It doesn't take away the heavy pit in his chest, but it feels nice.
"I don't know that I'll be able to get any sleep anyway," he confesses.
"You should try. You're going to need it."