Wei Wuxian is not Head Disciple

 What if Wei Wuxian was not the Head Disciple of the Jiang Sect?  

I think it's odd that he is only 16 and already considered number 1 in the entire sect... what about people older in their 20's or 30's that have been cultivating longer and are more experienced on night hunts or supervising others?  Is he really the most appropriate person to be leading instruction to all disciples?  Yes, he is a prodigy, but I find it weird that he somehow holds this title among one of the 5 Great Sects.  Shouldn't these Great Sects have a lot of disciples?  There must be hundreds at least, given the war descriptions indicate thousands of people died.  How can there literally be no one older than him that is more deserving of the role?  Someone who is not an up-and-coming prodigy, but someone seasoned in night hunts, or whoever replaced Wei Changze as Jiang Fengmian's right hand man.  We never know who might fill that role these days after Wei Wuxian's father defected or left the Sect.  Is this really Jiang Fengmian's "favoritism" at work?

Even the idea that Jiang Cheng should be Head Disciple just because he is the heir could be explored...  Who is the Head Disciple before Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian even started cultivating or reached their teens?  Would that person just step down to cede the role to the Sect Heir?  Or to Wei Wuxian?  The Head Disciple role is an honored position, so wouldn't such person want to hold that role and perhaps resent being replaced purely by the Sect Heir because of his blood relation to the Sect Leader?  Or to Wei Wuxian who has rumors abound regarding his origins and place in the Sect hierarchy?  This person would have been Wei Wuxian and (possibly) Jiang Cheng's trainer, along with other disciples in the sect.  Wouldn't Wei Wuxian's personality respect someone in this role and not seek to usurp it?  Wei Wuxian might not even want to rock the boat if Madam Yu was so bent on pushing him down and lifting her son up.  

Why does Jiang Fengmian even allow either of these teens to take the Head Disciple or Second Disciple roles?  Is he really that disconnected from traditional Sect hierarchy rules that he sets it all aside? Or, is Madam Yu's influence so strong to disregard Jiang historical conventions?  This feels like a gaping hole in the original MDZS storyline that could be developed further.

There are many questions and angles that this prompt could go... I've put a few of my thoughts down below for any writers who'd take on this story bunny.  Alternative ideas are always welcome!

Story Requirements:  

1. Wei Wuxian must not be the Head Disciple.  Either it is never offered to him, or he could be offered the position, but must decline it. 
2. Introduce a First Disciple (OC).  This person should be older (20's - 30's) and initially serve as Jiang Fengmian's righthand man, either Wei Changze's replacement or someone further down the road.   

Options or Ideas to Explore in your Story:

1. He/she becomes a protector for Wei Wuxian and advises him on his future - leaving the sect, or how to stay and survive.  
2. Perhaps he/she feels threatened by Wei Wuxian's brilliance. 
3. Or, he/she resents Madam Yu's pushing for his/her replacement as Jiang Cheng grows older.  
4. Or, Jiang Fengmian brings up the replacement idea and shocks the First Disciple at the whole impropriety of it all, in regard to traditions/gentry practices. 
5. Wei Wuxian is offered the role, but declines it - he respects the current First Disciple, or maybe he doesn't want to anger Madam Yu, or perhaps he wants to travel and not be tied to sect duties instead.  Jiang Cheng's reaction could go different ways - he gets jealous, or he gets upset that Wei Wuxian would not be his righthand man as he assumed, or he doesn't feel bothered at all (they have many years to go before Jiang Cheng would even be Sect Leader).  

Other comments:

• WangXian relationship is a plus, but not required.  Wei Wuxian should not be romantically paired with anyone else though - Lan Zhan for life! 
• Can be Jiang Family friendly or not friendly - up to you.  I think there is lots of room for Jiang Sect dynamics and pointing out flaws, hurtful or inappropriate behavior, and more. 
• Is the assignment or replacement of a Head Disciple something announced or shared among the sects as a key event?  This could be a plot point.  How do the other Sects view the changes?

Have fun writing! 

Please leave a comment if you write a story for this prompt and share a link/directions for others to find it.  I'd love to read anyone's work who utilizes this story idea.