Thinking about the web of alliances between the sects and how the Jin expertly manipulated it.

The Jin sect had an initial understanding with the Wen and even before the war they had a potential alliance with the Jiangs.

No real connection to Lan or Nie, though... until JGY.

And I really wonder if JGY used that as an ace with JGS to be accepted into the clan.

He had served NMJ. He had LXC's regard.

It would be a hell of a bargaining chip - accept me into the clan and I can give you closer ties with the Lan AND the Nie sects, which you don't have.

Because with the Wen gone and the Jiangs having turned down the marriage offer TWICE by that point, the Jin were in a bad spot, diplomaticly.

Especially since the Lan and Nie had bonds with each other and it was looking like Lan and Jiang had something there, too, with LWJ/WWX.

But JGY manages to turn it around and seal the deal with the formation of the Venerated Triad right when it's needed most. An alliance that never would have happened before the war without JGY.

(Doesn't matter if JGY and NMJ had a rocky relationship, at best. JGY made it work.)

And then JGY orchestrated the Phoenix Mountain hunt which 1) brought JYL to Koi Tower to be taken under Madam Jin's wing and 2) weakened the Jiangs by driving a wedge between JC and WWX. (Jin Zixun was an asshole but he was an asshole clearly operating with his uncle's blessing.)

The MVP may be JGY but ALL the Jins had a hand in this.

Madam Jin pushed the marriage. Jin Zixun, in addition to tearing down WWX, played power games with the Lans which JGS allowed. Jin Zixuan was the least culpable due to love of JYL, but still played a part with his silence.

The Phoenix Mountain hunt was a masterclass in political scheming and it worked because the rest of the sects were too decimated and too young with inexperience to play the game.