Whoah this place is definitely impressive. Everything Nie Huaisang isn't and has implied his older brother is. 

The gate lowers again as soon as they walk through it, heavy wooden spikes digging back into the dusty ground.

Within, they walk down a long stone passage between the outer gate and the inner fortress. The loom overhead, and fierce steel braziers are lit along the sides.

They hear the palace compound before they can reach it; dozens of armed soldiers are shouting as they run drills in the main courtyard.

"These are newly deployed guards," Meng Yao tells Nie Huaisang. "Your brother set them up. He strengthened the guard after receiving Wen Chao's message."

"...message?"

He nods. "The Wen Clan has recently sent messages to many clans. All the major sects have been instructed to choose an inner heir disciple to accept indoctrination in Qishan without delay. Or..."

"Or what?"

"Or the Wen Clan will send people to take them."

"All the major sects...that's us, too." 

"The Lan hold lectures that people flock to, whereas the Wen hold an indoctrination they have to take people to by force. What a pathetic imitation. Of course, it's really just a thin veil over hostage taking." 

"W...ait, but - inner heir disciple - I'm the only inner heir disciple!"

Wow that must be really hard for you

"Aaahhh, no, no way - I'll have to ask my brother..."

"Ask what?" he asks, descending the steps in an unconsciously cinematic-sexy way. 

"......nnothing, Da-ge." He looks down and scuffs his feet in the dirt.

"So that's Chifeng-zun," Jiang Cheng murmurs to Wei Ying. 

"It's not surprising why someone like Nie Huaisang is afraid of him, huh," she whispers back. 

He slowly walks over to the two of them. 

"Jiang-gongxi. Wei-guniang. Xichen spoke highly of you two. If the capture of Xue Yang is anything to go by, his praise seems to be deserved." He turns to Lan Zhan. "Lan-guniang. Is your brother well?"

"Thank you for your concern. He was well when I left."

He nods, then turns his attention to Xue Yang. 

"This is him?"

"This is him."

"Take him inside."

He bows and then gestures for the Nie guards to haul Xue Yang up the steps, leading them inside.

He gestures for everyone else to follow. 

"Xue Yang," he says, once they're all settled. "Your maliciousness knows no bounds. Frankly, we should just execute you right now!" 

"Wait!" 

"Are you going to speak on this villain's behalf?" 

"On his behalf? No, absolutely not. But he does have useful information, still, about the whereabouts of the Yin Iron and probably about the Wens. It's probably easier to extract it if he's still alive, and you can always kill him later."