Lotus Pier

Lotus Pier (莲花坞, Liánhuā Wù) is the residence of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan.

Description[]

Starting from the end of Lotus Pier, after just a while of paddling, one will see a large lotus lake, more than a hundred miles in length. The wide, verdant leaves and the smooth, pink blossoms brush shoulders against one another. As a breeze blows over, the petals and the leaves sway as if nodding their heads. Amid the purity and grace, one can also feel a naive sense of clumsiness.^[1]

Unlike the other clans’ residences, shutting their doors and refusing to let commoners come within a boundary miles away, the docks in front of Lotus Pier’s entrance often bustle with vendors selling seed pods, water chestnuts and all kinds of pastries. Runny-nosed children from households nearby also sneak into Lotus Pier’s fields to watch cultivators practice their swords. Upon getting caught, instead of being scolded, they sometimes even play with the Jiang Clan’s disciples.^[1]

History[]

Massacre[]

The Qishan Wen Clan sends Wang Lingjiao to Lotus Pier with the excuse of punishing Wei Wuxian for his actions inside the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter. The mistress of Lotus Pier, Yu Ziyuan, initially complies by whipping him with Zidian. When asked to cut off Wei Wuxian's hand, she orders her maids, Jinzhu and Yinzhu, to shut the doors to hide the blood. Yu Ziyuan becomes infuriated when Wang Lingjiao reveals her intent to transform Lotus Pier into a supervisory office of the Qishan Wen Clan and refuses to punish Wei Wuxian further. Together with her maids, Yu Ziyuan kills many of the Wen envoys and attempts to kill Wang Lingjiao.^[2]

However, Wen Zhuliu intervenes, having been ordered to protect Wang Lingjiao by Wen Chao. His fight with Yu Ziyuan allows Wang Lingjiao to escape and fire flares to summon reinforcements from the Qishan Wen Clan.^[3]

Recognizing their grim situation, Yu Ziyuan takes Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng away while Jinzhu and Yinzhu continue to battle Wen Zhuliu. She orders the disciples of Yunmeng Jiang to prepare for battle, before binding Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian to a boat with Zidian. She sends the two away and returns to Lotus Pier, sword in hand.^[3]

Jiang Fengmian passes by their boat while returning to Lotus Pier, and although he initially frees Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, he too restrains them upon learning of Wen Zhuliu's presence. He returns to Lotus Pier with his disciples to fight alongside his wife.^[3]

Ultimately, Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan both die at the hands of Wen Zhuliu. The Yunmeng Jiang Clan is nearly annihilated, with Jiang Cheng, Wei Wuxian, and Jiang Yanli, who had been away visiting the Meishan Yu Clan, as the only surviving members.^[4]^[5]

Second Siege of the Burial Mounds[]

After the Second Siege of the Burial Mounds, all the participating cultivation clans return to Lotus Pier to recover their spiritual power and discuss an alliance to defeat Jin Guangyao.^[6] Wei Wuxian also shows Lan Wangji around his childhood home, noting that all the old buildings, including his bedroom had been torn down and replaced. He also mentions the absence of vendors and boats compared to the past.^[6] They both pay their respects in the Ancestral Hall for Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan.^[7]