#Master Sheng Yi

[camillevanneerart]

'Yi' (20 × 30 cm, inkpen on 135 gms paper)

[simply-whump]

Mysterious Lotus Casebook (莲花楼) - Whump List

Whumpee : Li Lian Hua played by Cheng Yi, Fang Duo Bing played by Joseph Zeng and Di Fei Sheng played by Xiao Shun Yao

Synopsis : Ten years ago, Li Xiang Yi, the master of the Sigu Sect, dominated with his superior swordsmanship and was a symbol of light in the martial arts world. However, he suddenly disappeared along with Di Fei Sheng, the leader of the Jinyuan Alliance, after they arranged to battle in the East Sea. Ten years later, Li Lian Hua is a countryside doctor who travels dragging around a lotus tower. He accidentally becomes "famous" and gets pulled into the pugilistic world that he no longer wants to have any connections with. (MDL)

Genres : Mystery, Historical, Action

Warning! Possible spoilers below!

Li Lian Hua

Ep 1 : Fighting, cuts on his face and chest, veins appear on his arm, stabbed, spitting blood, eyes red, falls into the water — Slammed into a table

Ep 2 : Paralysed briefly — Choked

Ep 3 : Unwell, blue veins, treating himself — (Flashback) Stranded on a beach unconscious, wakes up, blaming himself for the death of many — Walking weakly, collapses, treated, bleeding from the mouth, told he lost almost all his power and is poisoned with no cure in sight, told he only has 10 years to live — (Present) Sword at his neck  — Locked up

Ep 4 : Hands tied — Chained, almost tortured, saved

Ep 5 : Hit by rocks, blood at his mouth, found, concern for him, passes out — Unconscious in bed, wakes up from a nightmare

Ep 6-7 : None

Ep 8 : Hit, holding his chest, spitting blood — Sword at his neck

Ep 9 : (Flashback) Crying — (Present) Grabbing his chest, concern for him — Fails to get up

Ep 10 : (Flashback) Has an allergy to peanuts, red spots on his neck — (Present) Pinned against a column, grabbed by the neck, grabbed a second time 

Ep 11 : Pushed, rolls down, hits a rock, falls into water, bruise on his neck

Ep 12 : Arm in a sling — Crying

Ep 13 : Paralysed — Kinda forced to drink some medicine, feeling uncomfortable, inner power given to him forcefully, blue veins on his neck and hands, in pain, spitting blood — Thrown into a pit full of snakes, bitten multiple times, groaning in pain — Spitting blood

Ep 14-17 : None

Ep 18 : Healing someone, using some power, sweating — Collapses, spitting blood —Coughing, concern for him, passes out — Unconscious in bed, concern for him — Walking unsteadily, vision blurry — Told he only has 4 months left to live — Crying — Has trouble getting up, given inner energy

Ep 19-24 : None

Ep 25 : Falls through a trap — Choked, almost stabbed, saved

EP 26 : Holding his chest, kidnaped — Thrown to the ground, surrounded by monsters — Found on the ground seemingly unconscious, concern for him, is fine, helped up

Ep 27 : Identity revealed to Fang Duobing, collapses, spitting blood, passes out — Wakes up, coughing — Walking unsteadily — Waking up in bed, coughing, told he was unconscious for 3 days — Coughing

Ep 28 : Hit, holding his chest

Ep 29 : None

Ep 30 : Arrested — Poison acting up, unwell, cold, curled up on himself, shivering, concern for him, wrapped in blankets — Wakes up in bed, vision blurry — Loses balance briefly — Blue veins on his neck, fighting, spitting blood, concern for him, in an explosion, helped up, attacked, thrown around, spitting blood, weak on the ground, vision blurry, protected — Unconscious, carried — Unconscious in bed, wakes up, concern for him, can’t get up, shaking, blue veins on his hands, coughing, told to lie down, cold, coughing up blood, passes out — Unconscious in bed, treated — Carried unconscious

Ep 31 : Wakes up — Crying — Coughing, refuses to be saved at the cost of someone else’s life

Ep 32 : Crying

Ep 33 : Crying, spitting blood, collapses to one knee, continues to fight even though the poison is acting up

Ep 34 : Crying — Red and blue veins on his wrist, concern for him

Ep 35 : None

Ep 36 : Captured, chained in prison, wrongful accused, frees himself

Ep 37 : Drops a cup, rubbing his eyes — Stabbed by someone he trusted, spitting blood, passes out — Missing — Prisoner, chained, unconscious — Wakes up, vision blurry, weak, coughing blood, blind

Ep 38 : Still chained, coughing — Choked, coughing — Regains sight, manages to free himself 

Ep 39 : Intense final battle, poison acting up — Learns a shocking truth, teary eyed

Ep 40 : Uses his internal power to save someone, coughing, sweating — Walking unsteadily, collapses to one knee, spitting blood, vision blurry, concern for him, passes out — Wakes up in bed, pulse taken — Spitting blood — Leaves (Dies? Lives? You decide)

Fang Duo Bing

Ep 1 : Drugged, dizzy, passes out 

Ep 2 : None

Ep 3 : Locked up

Ep 4 : Hands tied

Ep 5 : Drugged, passes out

Ep 6-7 : None

Ep 8 : Hit, spitting blood, passes out — Woken up

Ep 9-12 : None

Ep 13 : Hit, spitting blood, collapses to one knee, in pain — Suddenly passes out, unconscious in bed, treated

Ep 14 : Unwell, treated — “Poison” acting up again, in pain

Ep 15 : None

Ep 16 : Cured — Tied up (Comedic)

Ep 17-25 : None

Ep 26 : Has a headache, collapses — Fighting, arm cut, treated, bandaged

Ep 27 : Bombarded, fighting many enemies at once, shoulder cut, saved by Li Lianhua — Feeling betrayed, upset, crying

Ep 28-29 : None

Ep 30 : Drugged — Wakes up tied up with ropes, taken hostage, finally learns that Lianhua is gravely poisoned, grabbed by the neck, freed — Fighting a lot of people at once, injured, holding his side

Ep 31 : Coughing, bleeding from his previous injury, hiding it

Ep 32-34 : None

Ep 35 : Hit, falling through a deep hole, trapped

Ep 36 : Still trapped, fighting, hit, spitting blood

Ep 37-39 : None

Ep 40 : Crying, worried for Li Lianhua

Di Fei Sheng

Ep 1 : Fighting, stabbed in the shoulder, stabbed in the chest, falls into the water 

Ep 2-7 : None

Ep 8 : Poisoned 

Ep 7-12 : None

Ep 13 : Acupuncture performed on him

Ep 14-19 : None

Ep 20 : Stabbed in the stomach, poisoned — Unwell, bleeding, walking unsteadily, passes out, found in the water unconscious — Lost his memories, passes out — Unconscious in bed

Ep 21-24 : None

Ep 25 : Has a headache, poison spreading, treated

Ep 26 : Headache, groaning in pain, collapses

Ep 27 : Headache, poison acting up, stumbling, supported, sweating, cutting the palm of his hand with his sword, cured, passes out — Wakes up in bed, regained his memories but pretends he has not

Ep 28-33 : None

Ep 34 : Poisoned, attacked, bleeding from the mouth, stabbed, both wrists and ankles slashed (tendons broken), bleeding, collapses, bleeding from the mouth — Weak

Ep 35-37 : None

Ep 38 : Prisoner, chained in water, injured, wound touched, wincing, stabbed, spits blood (in the villain face, which was kinda nice), slapped — Freed, carried — Meditating to heal himself, bleeding from the mouth, helped — Trapped

Ep 39-40 : None

>> More Whump List

[baoshan-sanren]

best cdramas I’ve watched since the last one of these posts in 2022 (and some I’m still looking forward to seeing)

Heroes (watch on WeTV VIP | watch on bilibili) Adapted from the novel "Shuo Ying Xiong Shei Shi Ying Xiong" (说英雄谁是英雄) by Wen Rui An (温瑞安) starring Zeng ShunXi, Yang ChaoYue, Liu YuNing, Baron Chen and Meng ZiYi. I would’ve watched this thing for the cast only. Everyone is queer vibes. Not a flashy drama, but will emotionally shred you. The character development is totally worth it. Throughly entertaining, even when it punched you in the gut. 8/10

The Wind Blows From LongXi (watch on iQIYI VIP | watch on Viki) Adapted from novel "The Wind Rises in Longxi" (风起陇西) by Ma Bo Yong (马伯庸) starring Chen Kun and Bai Yu. I’ve been waiting for this drama for two years and it was worth every second of the wait. The cinematography in this thing is bonkers. The use of light and shadows, the muted colors, the indoor shots opening up into well-lit courtyards, the gritty sound mixing, the whole thing just blew my ass away. Chen Kun and Bai Yu are masters of their art. Fckn masterpiece. 11/10

Who Rules The World (watch on WeTV VIP | watch on Netflix) Adapted from the novel "Qie Shi Tian Xia" (且试天下) by Qing Ling Yue (倾泠月) starring Yang Yang, Zhao LuSi, and Xuan Lu. One of the rare romance dramas that really appealed to me. A well-balanced mix of court intrigue and martial world heroics. Unlimited blorbo potential. It’s hard to outshine Yang Yang (who gives major Mei Changsu vibes through like the first third of the drama) but Zhao LuSi and Xuan Lu together? Magnificent. Breathtaking. Brilliant. 8/10

The Legend of Hao Lan (watch on iQIYI VIP | watch on Viki | watch on tubi) starring Wu Jinyan and Nie Yuan. So this was like, The Story of Yanxi Palace cast, remixed. Was it great? Not really. Did I watch every episode? Yeah. I honestly think that Wu Jinyan could just make faces for 50+ sixty minute episodes, and I’d still watch every minute of it. Still, a fascinating take on the Warring States Period, and actually based on a woman who helped her son become the King of Qin, then ultimately the First Emperor of China. I think 99% of the budget went to costumes, and tbh, it was totally worth every penny. 7/10

(yeah, after all this, I rewatched Nirvana In Fire again)

The Silent Criminal (watch on Apple TV | watch on Bilibili | watch on iQIYI VIP | watch on Viki) starring Li Jiaming and Wen Sheng. So incredibly gay. Hilarious, yes, but predominantly gay. Murder, intrigue, suspense, pining; this little drama literally has everything. Did it impact my life and leave a long-lasting impression? Not really. But I was most throughly entertained. 7/10

My Heroic Husband (watch on Amazon Prime | watch on iQIYI VIP | watch on Viki) Adapted from the novel "Zhui Xu" (赘婿) by Fen Nu de Xiang Jiao (愤怒的香蕉). Starring Song Yi and Guo Qilin. Actually, the majority of Joy of Life cast is in this drama, including a cameo by Zhang Ruoyun in the very beginning. Cast aside tho, I fckn love this drama to pieces. Song Yi and Guo Qilin have amazing chemistry, and they’re so goddamn adorable together I can’t even stand it. The plot is far from complex but immensely satisfying. Excellent drama on a mediocre budget, one I plan to regularly rewatch. 8/10

Still waiting on: 

Immortality - based on danmei novel The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by 肉包不吃肉 starring Chen Feiyu and Luo Yunxi (you can think I’m a clown but you’d be wrong bc I’m a wholeass circus)

Winner Is King - based on the danmei novel Sha Po Lang by Priest starring Tan Jianci and Chen Zheyuan

Step By Step Lotus - based on historical novel Return to Ming Dynasty as Prince by 月关 starring Zhang Binbin and Luo Yunxi

Eternal Faith - based on danmei novel Heaven Official’s Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu starring Zhai Xiaowen and Zhang Linghe

Joy Of Life Season 2 - based on wuxia novel of the same name by 猫腻 starring Zhang Ruoyun and Li Qin

A League of Nobleman - based on danmei novel The Society of Four Leaves by Da Feng Gua Guo starring Song Weilong and Jing Boran

Flying Phoenix - based on danmei novel of the same name by 風弄 starring Dai Jingyao and Shu Yaxin

The Story of the Bat - based on danmei novel Bat by Feng Nong starring Mao Zijun and Zhang Yao

The Longest Promise - based on xianxia novel Zhu Yan by 沧月 starring Xiao Zhan, Ren Min, and Zhang Yunlong

Song of The Moon - based on wuxia novel 奔月 by 蜀客 starring Zhang Binbin and Xu Lu

Story of Kunning Palace - based on the the web novel 坤宁 by Shi Jing starring Bai Lu and Zhang Linghe 

Under the Microscope - based on the novel 显微镜下的大明 by 马伯庸 starring Zhang Ruoyun and Qi Wei

Till the End of the Moon - based on the web novel 黑月光拿稳BE剧本 by Teng Luo Wei Zhi starring Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu

[deathfavor]

@deiscension said: "did you used to play in the street when you were little?" - a somewhat tipsy sqx trying to get my to talk more.

still born sentence starters

Should it ever be inquired upon in the future, He Xuan would say this little slip up was something born of alcohol and nothing more. It certainly wasn't because the persistence of the wind master was finally starting to get somewhere with him. He Xuan lifts the cup of sake to his lip, contemplating his word choices.

It won't mater. He Sheng was a nobody in the slums of poverty, and no one ever checked the history of gods unless something demanded it or it was a great spectacle like the four tales. Ming Yi is, for all intents and purposes, a rather ordinary if reclusive god, nothing special. ( Other than his seeming disdain for the credits being thrown around - no matter how long he's been spotted with the Wind Master, never once has anyone seen him accept any. ) He lowers the cup, finally speaking.

" Not very often. I was often busy even when I was little, or studying. " It isn't a lie, and it's not something unusual enough to draw unwanted attention. " ...I had a little sister though who did. She loved to play in the streets. I usually kept watch over her. " It was all true. Once they had been treasured memories. He'd never had many material things, but those memories had been priceless, outshining any gems or gold coins that could be flaunted.

Now they were stained with blood and darkness. He can feel his throat clench as he suffocates silently. ( Which is funny, given that he can't ACTUALLY be suffocated any more. )

The Ghost King takes another sip of his drink. " She loved to dance. Especially when it rained. She'd dance and play in the rain like it was no big deal, even when she was completely drenched. " He manages a thin smile, and if he strains, maybe he can still hear her innocent laugh in the distance.

" I had to study, but I always made sure she had a warm meal and dry clothes when she came in. " He remembers, " She very much loved to be outside. " He can't blame her; outside was the promise of what could be while their barely held together home was a cold reminder of what was. " Why? What brought this up? "

[lilianhuas]

Fang Duo Bing @ Li Lian Hua: “Come to think of it, you resemble my master (Li Xiang Yi)

Di Feng Sheng in disguise: He is’t. During the battle Li Xiang Yi lost. He’s 2nd best.

Fang Duo Bing: are you saying Li Xiang Yi lost to Di Feng Sheng?! How do you know? were you there? Are you a fish or turtle spirit?!

Li Lian Yi: ☺️🤭

[dramaddict-and-proud-of-it]

Mysterious Lotus Case Book

Year : 2023 | Country : CN | Nb of episodes: 40

My rate: 7/10

Synopsis :

Ten years ago, Li Xiang Yi, the master of the Sigu Sect, dominated with his superior swordsmanship and was a symbol of light in the martial arts world. However, he suddenly disappeared along with Di Fei Sheng, the leader of the Jinyuan Alliance, after they arranged to battle in the East Sea.

Ten years later, Li Lian Hua is a countryside doctor who travels dragging around a lotus tower. He accidentally becomes "famous" and gets pulled into the pugilistic world that he no longer wants to have any connections with. Fang Duo Bing, a passionate youth who dreams of becoming a hero, realizes that Li Lian Hua is not a simple man and vows to find proof that Li Lian Hua has been impersonating a famous doctor. Meanwhile, Di Fei Sheng, who has always regarded Li Xiang Yi as a fierce enemy, has also reemerged in the pugilistic world and recognizes that the unremarkable doctor Li Lian Hua is none other than Li Xiang Yi.

After a series of cases, Li Lian Hua, Di Fei Sheng and Fang Duo Bing gradually come to forge a deep friendship and join hands in solving mysterious cases to uphold justice.

Main cast :

Cheng Yi as Li Lianhua (voiced by Cheng Yi) / Li Xiangyi

Xu Wei Luo as Li Xiangyi (teen)

Xie Zi Mo (谢子墨) as Li Xiangyi (child)

Zeng Shun Xi as Fang Duobing (Fang Xiaobao)

Lu Jin Hao as Fang Xiaobao (young)

Xiao Shun Yao as Di Feisheng

Xu Jia Xi as Di Feisheng (young)

My thoughts on this drama :

From the reviews I had read online, this was supposed to be as good at The Blood of Youth. For me, it was not. Don't get me wrong! It is a very good drama. The overall absence of romance is a big plus (it's there in the background but has no direct impact on the story itself more than in a few flashbacks that I enjoyed skipping).

What bothered me most is that the second hero was such a dimwit. All muscle no brain. Yes he's pretty young and all, but that wannabe detective was just dumb. He relied completely on Lianhua's deduction before finding the solution to all cases (but still taking all credit for solving it heh...). It took a bit too long for the big reveal of the main lead's identity, and I found truly ridiculous that his old pals did not recognize him as soon as they saw him. He was pretty much walking out there looking the same as ten year prior, sometimes wearing a mask that hid nothing.... but that's a common trope in Cdramaland so.... Big thumb up to the redemption arc of the initial "villain". The friendship born of it was amazing to see, and I was very much rooting for more interactions between the three main characters. The side characters also did their job, adding drama and comic relief to the story. The backstory that unraveled slowly up to the finale was splendidly executed, and I felt terrible for Lianhua when he realized the whole truth. I have a small regret though: for a Wuxia drama, there weren't that many awesome fights, and the rare ones were so short they lacked impact.

Anyway, it  is still a good drama, Cheng Yi prove once again that he's a true talent of this generation, and I hope to see him take one more dramas and movies (no dumb romcom) to showcase his impressive capacity to show emotions with his eyes and micro expressions. He convinced me back in Immortal Samsara, now I'm just another fan...

A Favorite ?

NO

[bookofjin]

Account of the Di (WS101)

[I.e. the kingdom of Chouchi. This post covers down to the ascension of Yang Baozong in 429]

The Di are a separate kind of the Western Yi, titled the Baima. At the juncture of the Three Eras, perhaps Bai was a lord or chief, but in that period there was a single court audience. For that reason the Poetry claims:

Since those Di and Qiang, do not dare not to come to the King.

From Qin, Han and onwards, for generation they lived in Qi, Long and southwards, and Hanchuan and westwards, and established themselves as prominent leaders.

In the middle of Han's Jian'an [196 – 220] there was Yang Teng, he was a great leader of the section's family groups. Teng was brave, strong and with many plans and schemes. He was the first to move to Chouchi. Chouchi has an area of a hundred [bai] qing, because of that he used it as a title. [All] four sides are steep and sheer, and are 7 li tall. The road coils like goat intestines for thirty-six rotations. On its top is the source of the Feng river. They cook the earth to achieve salt.

After Teng there was someone named Qianwan. Wei designated him as King of the Baiqing Di. Qianwan's grandson was named Feilong. He gradually grew strong and flourishing, Emperor Wu of Jin made use of him as General who Pacifies the West.

He had no sons, and reared his sister's son Linghu Maosou as his son. Middle of Emperor Hui's Yuankang era [291 – 299], Maosou titled himself General who Supports the State and Worthy King of the Right, the crowd of Di pushed him forward as ruler. Many of the gentlemen Within the Passes who drifted and moved about relied on him. Emperor Min used him as General of Agile Cavalry and Worthy King of Left.

Maosou died, and his son Nandi controlled the position. He and his younger brother Jiantou divided the entourage. Nandi titled himself Worthy King of the Left and stationed at Xiabian. Jiantou titled himself Worthy King of the Right, and stationed at Hechi.

Nandi died, his son Yi was installed. He titled himself Envoy Holding the Tally, Dragon Prancing General, Worthy King of the Left, and Duke of Duke of Xiabian. He used Jiantou's son Pan as Envoy Holding the Tally, General of the Best of the Army, Worthy King of the Right, and Duke of Hechi. He was subject to Jin, and Jin used Yi as General who Conquers the South.

3rd Year [of Xiankang, 337 AD, per Songshu], Yi's senior kinsman Chu assaulted and killed Yi, and also gained his multitudes. He installed himself as Duke of Chouchi and was subject to Shi Hu. Later he claimed to be vassal to Jin. 10th Year of Yonghe [354 AD], changed Chu to be Duke of Tianshui.

11th Year [355 AD], Yi's younger brother Songnu sent his aunt's son Liang Sanwang to take the opportunity of attending to straight away with blade in hand kill Chu. Chu's son Guo led left and right to excute Sanwang and Songnu, and then installed himself as Duke of Chouchi. Huan Wen petitioned for Guo to be Inspector of Qin province, and for Guo's son An to be Grand Warden of Wudu.

12th Year [356 AD], Guo's junior uncle's son Jun killed Guo and installed himself. Guo's son An betrayed Fu Sheng, killed Jun, and then declared himself a vassal to Jin.

An died, his son Shi installed himself as Duke of Chouchi. Jin's 3rd Year of Taihe [368 AD], used Shi as Inspector of Qin province, and his younger brother Tong as Grand Warden of Wudu.

Shi died. Tong deposed Shi's son Zuan and installed himself. Tong was also named De. Zuan assembled a faction, assaulted and killed Tong, and installed himself as Duke of Chouchi. He dispatched envoys to go to Emperor Jianwen, who used Zuan as Inspector of Qin province. Jin's 1st Year of Xian'an [371 Ad], Fu Jian dispatched Yang An to invade Zuan. He overcame him, and moved his people to Within the Passes, and emptied the land of Baiqing.

At the death of Songnu, his two sons Fonu and Fogou escaped and ran to Fu Jian. Jian used [a daughter] as wife to Fonu's son Ding, and designated him as Master of Writing and [General who] Leads the Army. At the defeat of Fu Jian, Guanyou was disturbed and chaotic. Ding exhausted his strength for Jian. When Jian died, he led the multitudes to run to Longyou. He moved to govern Licheng, which is 120 li from Chouchi, and set up granaries and stores at Baiqing. He summoned the barbarians and the Xia, and obtained more than a thousand families. He declared himself Dragon Prancing General and Duke of Chouchi, and declared to be vassal to Jin. Xiaowu promptly used what he had titled himself to make use of him, and later used him as Inspector of Qin province. 4th Year of Dengguo [389 AD], he thereupon had the land of Qin province, and titled himself as King of Longxi. He was later killed by Qifu Qiangui. He had no sons.

Fogou's son Sheng first was overseeing the state, and defended Chouchi. He then controlled affairs, titled himself General who Conquers the West, Inspector of Qin province, and Duke of Chouchi, and conferred posthumous title on Ding as Martial [wu] King. He divided the various Di and Qiang to make twenty sections with Army-Protectors. Each he made a garrison posts, and he did not set up commanderies and counties. Thereupon he had the land of Hanzhong, but continued to declare to be vassal to Jin. Beginning of Tianxing [398 – 404], he dispatched envoys to court [i.e. the Wei court] with tribute. A decree used Sheng as Great General who Conquers the South and King of Chouchi. He was isolated and blocked off by Yao Xing, and did not mange to communicate annually with tribute and envoys. Sheng used his older brother's son Fu as General who Pacifies the South and Inspector of Liang# province, to defend Hanzhong. Middle of Liu Yu's Yongchu [420 – 422], ennobled Sheng as King of Wudu. Sheng died, his private posthumous title was Kind and Civil [huiwen] King. His son Xuan controlled the position.

Xuan, courtesy name Huangmei, was titled Great General who Conquers the West, Opening Office with Ceremony Similar to the Three Ministers, Inspector of Qin province, and King of Wudu. Though he was a declared vassal to Liu Yilong, he continued to defer to the symbol of Jin's Yongxi era. Later he started to use Yilong's Yuanjia calendar.

Earlier, Sheng spoke to Xuan, saying:

I am aged and already old, and will end as a subject of Jin. For you it is good to serve the Song emperor.

For that reason Xuan deferred to him.

Xuan was good at entertaining scholars, and was cherished by migrants and long-time [inhabitants]. 4th Year of Shiguang [427 AD], Shizu dispatched the Great Swan-geese Arranger, Gongsun Gui, to designate Xuan as Great General who Conquers the South, Chief Controller, Inspector of Liang# province, and King of Nanqin. Xuan sent up a petition to request to be aligned with inner vassals. Allowed it. Xuan died, his private posthumous title was Filial and Luminous [xiaozhao] King. His son Baozong controlled the position.

[herapersona]

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER; JAIL IS JUST A ROOM

“Sheng-ge! Hurry up! We’ll be late!” Jiang Cheng, mature and definitely not a little boy anymore at age 14, yelled for his cousin. “I don’t want Shufu to think my cousin is irresponsible with time!”

Mama and Father chuckled from the dining area where they were still finishing up their breakfast.

“You’re too obsessed with what Lan QiRen will think of you, baobei,” Mama said with a fond smile.

A-Cheng pouted at his mother but he went to kiss her cheek. “It’s because I want him to like me, Mama. After all, I will marry Huan-ge in the future and he’ll be my uncle-in-law.”

He ignored Father’s choking sounds and ran to the bottom of the stairs when he heard Jiang WuSheng, his older cousin, running down. “Gods! Finally!”

“Sorry! I wanted to look presentable to your friends coz I know how special they are to you. I didn’t want to look like a slob.” Jiang WuSheng, at fifteen years old, was already almost 6 feet tall with broad shoulders and a slim waist. His dark hair was a little messy but that was a normal style for teenage boys nowadays so it was okay.

A-Cheng stepped back and looked at his cousin up and down. Yes, Sheng-ge was as handsome as any boy-next-door type of idol whose face and physique made A-Cheng envious but with how the older boy carried himself, it was a waste. He wore a very simple white t-shirt under a black-gray-and-white plaid polo, paired with black jeans, and white sneakers.

“Straighten your back, Sheng-ge. Do not slouch,” the younger boy ordered before fixing WuSheng’s collar. “Okay, we’re ready to go.”

“A-yi, Shushu, we’re going,” WuSheng waved at the couple.

“Mama, Father, we’re off!”

The teens walked out of the Jiang mansion and got into the awaiting car.

“Gege, just drop us off at the gates. Sheng-ge and I will walk to the Lan house,” A-Cheng told the driver who chuckled and shook his head.

“Of course, Young Master.”

The spring morning sun shone over their young faces as they leaned back and let the slow car ride to the gates about 5 miles away from the house give them time to have their final touches on themselves.

A-Cheng put some hand cream onto his pal and handed it to Sheng-ge. “Have some.”

Sheng-ge looked at the small bottle of hand cream and inspected it. It was lotus-scented and smooth to the hand. “Is this why your hand is so soft and fragrant?”

“Yes,” A-Cheng accepted the bottle back and put it in the pocket of his sling bag.

“When did you start caring about your hands? The last time we saw each other, you refused to even wash them before dinner,” the older teen teased which earned him a glare from the younger boy.

“I was 4, Sheng-ge. Stop teasing already.”

The two of them got out of the car and thanked the driver before walking down the street toward the Lan mansion which was a couple of estates down.

Gentle breeze teased their hair, especially A-Cheng’s which was pulled back in a ponytail with two braids on each side of his face. Ice was slowly thawing and in replacement to it were the evergreens that had waited for months and months before they came out for this year.

The birds that wanted to escape the cold were slowly returning with the promise of better days to come. In Jiang Cheng’s mind, better days will come indeed.

—xxx—

Jiang WuSheng was sent to his uncle and aunt in the city for his continuing education. As much as his parents wanted to raise him and be with him all his life, they knew that they could not leave their life in the country. At least, they knew that Yu ZiYuan will be a good role model for Jiang WuSheng even if Jiang FengMian was a disappointment to the whole clan. And it would be good for A-Sheng to hang out with A-Cheng and A-Li so he will know how kids around his age act and think. Enough was enough with him being an old soul.

Now, here he was, Jiang WuSheng, fifteen years of age, the only son of a couple who has a vast area of land in the country, the future right-hand man of Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Jiang Wanyin, staring shamelessly at a middle-aged man whose beauty was like no other.

A-Cheng’s elbow to his rib forcefully pulled Jiang WuSheng from all the inappropriate thoughts he just had about the said middle-aged man such as bending him over the table to his right or pinning him against the wall or–

“I am Lan QiRen, A-Huan and A-Zhan’s uncle.” Was it really possible for a man to have such a musical and calm voice? Was it possible for a man to have such a soft but powerful hand? Was it really possible for the man to become even more beautiful the longer Jiang WuSheng stared at him?

“Please marry me,” A-Sheng heard himself say.

The man’s eyes widened a little before he frowned and pulled his hand away from A-Sheng. Wait, no! Don’t pull your hand away! He wanted to say but heck, his mind was a mess.

“You’re too young to be thinking of marriage, young man,” the man–Lan Qiren… Ren-ge–told A-Sheng. Wait, he didn’t say A-Sheng’s name.

“J-Jiang WuSheng”! A-Sheng blurted out, his voice exploding in the living room of the huge and pristine house they were in. “My name… it’s… it’s Jiang WuSheng. Y-you can call me A-Sheng, Ren-gege.”

“WHO THE FUCK IS YOUR GEGE?” A-Cheng’s voice snapped at A-Sheng and he looked at his cousin whose purplish eyes were now dark with mortification and shock. Even his cheeks were turning beet red.

Lan QiRen’s face had turned a pretty shade of pink and A-Sheng had somehow managed to pull a burst of soft laughter from the older man.

At least A-Huan was pretty chill about the situation. A-Zhan didn’t seem to care as long as Wei Ying was leaning against him while giggling like the lunatic that he was.

“Young man, I am old enough to be your father. You might as well find someone your age. Aside from that, if I marry you, I’ll be thrown into jail,” there was fondness in his tone and he patted A-Sheng’s head. “I’d like to keep myself out of jail as much as possible.”

A-Sheng raised a brow. “If you’re old enough to be my father, then should I call you Daddy?”

—xxx—

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?” They were barely inside the house when A-Cheng started tearing him a new one. “Flirting with Shufu? Really, Sheng-ge??? Really???”

A-Sheng opened his mouth to reply but no words came so he shrugged.

Wei Ying’s laughter was really not helping.

“And you insinuating that you should call him ‘Daddy’? Are you kidding me???”

Now that made A-Sheng feel a stab of sheepishness in his chest. He wasn’t sorry though. “To be fair, he’s a very handsome man and I wouldn’t think twice if he ever had a thought of having his way on me.”

“Jiang WuSheng!” A-Cheng’s voice snapped so hard and so loudly that A-Sheng had no choice but to flinch and take a couple of steps away from his cousin in case A-Cheng decided to throw a punch.

“What’s going on here?” Madam Yu asked, her eyes jumping from her angry son to dying-of-laughter Wei Ying who was in a fetal position on the couch while hugging his belly, and finally to Jiang WuSheng.

Wei Ying was obviously useless at this point as he was laughing so much he could barely breathe and A-Cheng was so angry that he was seething.

Okay then. It looked like A-Sheng needed to explain.

He cleared his throat and looked at Madam Yu. “I…” he started before clearing his throat one more time. “I am in love with Lan Qiren.”

Madam Yu’s purplish eyes grew as big as saucers at that. “Lan… Lan Qiren? The uncle?”

“Yes, A-Yi,” A-Sheng nodded with a smile.

“Are you sure? Do you mean Lan Huan or Lan Zhan?” Madam Yu sat down on the couch adjacent to the one where A-Ying was currently gasping for air. She crossed her legs and put her joined hands over her knees, giving her that ethereal and royal look even when she was already wearing her pajamas.

“I’m sure, A-Yi. Lan QiRen as in Lan Huan and Lan Zhan’s handsome, elegant, and wonderful uncle.” He smiled at his aunt proudly. “I’d love to wife him up and keep him filled with my–”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” A-Cheng screamed while covering his ears and running around like he was a demon being sprayed with holy water or maybe a banshee. Maybe both. “RELEASE ME FROM THIS FUCKING MISERY! JUST SHOOT ME! STRIKE ME WITH LIGHTNING! I CANNOT LIVE WITH THIS SHAME ON MY BACK!”

Madam Yu had to massage her temples at the chaos in front of her–one teen is probably having an asthma attack based on the wheezes coming out of him, another screaming like a banshee, and the last grinning like a fucking idiot because he fell in love at first sight.

She manhandled A-Ying to a sitting position and pulled A-Cheng to sit down beside A-Ying. “And you,” she pointed at the oldest boy of the three. “Sit down, keep your mouth shut, and no more dirty talk about Lan QiRen.”

“But A-Yi… how could I not when he’s got the face that would be perfect to look at when he’s begging and crying and–”

He deserved the karate chop to his head from Madam Yu. He really deserved it. He knew he did but he couldn’t help but laugh because his heart felt so full. His fifteen-year-old heart was overwhelmingly huge that he couldn’t think of a way to express all his emotions.

“I’ve already planned our wedding. A-Yi, I want you to be a witness to the exchange of our love and our rings. He shall be my wife in the future.”

Madam Yu just groaned and shook her head.

—xxx—

Cangse Sangren’s laughter was very much like her son’s when Yu ZiYuan shared the story with her and Wei Changze. Same tone, same wheeze, same sound, same pitch. Her head was thrown back as her voice became the music that filled the Wei House Kitchen. Her husband kept his hand on her shoulder to keep her from flipping her chair back.

“I’m dying,” the woman claimed while wiping her tears of laughter. She finally straightened her posture and looked at QiRen’s red face. “So you’ve been flirted with by a minor, huh? I’m sure jail is already waving at you at this point.”

“You and your son are so much alike,” QiRen mumbled, his cheeks burning from embarrassment. How dare that boy flirt with him so openly in front of his nephews? Besides, he hasn’t been here for a long time and he was already stirring the pot of drama? Such a troublemaker. As if Lan QiRen would ever commit the sin of loving a minor.

“Don’t worry, Ren-di,” Cangse Sangren assured him. “Age is just a number.”

“And jail is just a room,” Wei Changze responded before patting QiRen’s hunched shoulders.

Yu ZiYuan simply sipped her tea at all the drama going on with her friends. She was tired of it. Just last night, she had to make sure that A-Cheng would not strangle A-Sheng in his sleep because A-Cheng was so distraught that he just wanted to erase A-Sheng’s existence entirely.

Of course, Jiang FengMian was of no help in keeping the drama at bay. If anything, the bastard was an addition to the drama because the moment he saw A-Ying, he proceeded to gush over his best friend’s son as if his own son was not there.

“He’s only 15!” QiRen mumbled while staring at his tea. “I’m 35. Why would he want to ‘wife’ me up, huh? Is this a new kink or something among teenagers?”

Yuan, SangRen, and ChangZe all looked at QiRen with knowing smiles.

“What?” QiRen asked, his brows furrowed and meeting just above his nose line.

“Well…” SangRen nudged her husband and then nodded toward QiRen. “You can tell him.”

Changze chuckled before raising and then dropping his shoulders nonchalantly. “To be honest, Ren-di, you really are wife material. I wouldn’t be surprised if A-Sheng is not the only one having fantasies about you. You’re beautiful plus your mysterious aura pulls at people more than you know it does.”

Confusion overcame Qiren from the inside out. “Huh? Mysterious aura? What are you on about?”

His friends simply shrugged and shook their heads before sipping their tea, not answering his questions at all.

—xxx—

“For the love of all the gods and goddesses out there, Sheng-ge,” A-Cheng grumbled, “behave. I don’t want a repeat of what happened the first time you met Shufu. Don’t make him feel uncomfortable.”

A-Sheng just sighed and nodded. “Yes, A-Cheng. I understand.”

The meeting was tame compared to the first time. A-Sheng just followed Lan QiRen with his gaze without saying anything other than the greeting (again, it was tamer than the last time).

The whole time the boys were hanging out, A-Sheng thought deeply. He thought about his age and Ren-ge’s age. Yes, legally, Ren-ge might get in trouble if he had a relationship with a minor. And A-Sheng is definitely minor.

A-Sheng didn’t want Ren-ge to get in trouble and he wanted to prove to everyone that the feelings he had were not fleeting. He loved Ren-ge. He fell in love at first sight.

“Ren-gege, I will not be coming back here until I turn 18. Until then, please wait for me,” he explained before he and A-Cheng could leave the Lan mansion. “I’ll be sure to grow up well and properly so you will be proud to be pursued by me.”

—xxx—

Lan QiRen watched the boys walk away from the house, A-Sheng’s words echoing in his mind. Hmm… It’s good to have some peace of mind if the boy will not be coming back. For sure, he would fall in love with somebody else within the next three years. Surely, he would forget about old Lan QiRen and have a blast collecting people’s hearts and maybe breaking them in the process.

That was what QiRen thought that night before pushing the memory of a teenage boy who was a little bit off in the head out of his mind. So why the hell was the boy at his front porch in the middle of the goddamn night almost three years after the last time he was there?

“Ren-gege, I am Jiang WuSheng,” the boy–no… he was a man now–had grown even taller and broader in the past years. And his voice had become so sultry that QiRen could not help but shiver and it was not because of the cold.

QiRen took in the man in front of him with his eyes. A-Sheng’s formerly short and black hair was now long with its tips dyed with silver. The older man even itched to push a strand of hair behind A-Sheng’s ear but he was glued on the spot.

A-Sheng was dressed up in expensive clothes from head to toe too. He had a golden hoop on his left earlobe, a Rolex Submariner, and hand-stitched leather shoes that went very beautifully with his dark blue suit-and-tie get-up.

“I just turned 18. I’m legal now! I’ll court you from now on.” The boy grinned at the older man, his greyish eyes shining from the lights over their heads.

QiRen barely had enough time to process everything when a bouquet of flowers and a box of expensive chocolates were put in his arms.

“I’m sorry for waking you up, Ren-gege. I just couldn’t wait to see your beautiful face. Anyway, I’ll get going now. I still have work.” A-Sheng waved at Lan QiRen before running toward the gates.

—xxx—

“He did what?” Yu ZiYuan asked during a weekly meeting with his friends.

“He showed up a few minutes after midnight at the house to drop a bouquet of flowers and some chocolates and said that it was his birthday,” QiRen said while staring at his tea once more. “I thought he’d totally forget about me after all these years.”

ZiYuan leaned back on her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well… at some point, he stopped talking about you so I thought he moved on from you too.”

“See?” QiRen pointed at ZiYuan. “Besides, what kind of 18-year-old boy could afford Rolex Submariner or something?”

“Well, his parents are well off plus he works a lot.”

“You let your minor ward work?” QiRen frowned at that. He couldn’t have let his nephews work if he could help it. Especially when their parents and the clan itself were more than rich enough to send both boys to private schools without many financial difficulties.

“Don’t judge me, you ass,” ZiYuan rolled her eyes at him. “He got permission from his parents that he could work as much as he wanted as long as he managed to keep his grades up.” She shrugged. “He hasn’t disappointed them or me for that matter.”

—xxx—

“Good morning, Ren-gege,” A-Sheng greeted and handed QiRen a box of donuts. He had been waiting at the gates since five in the morning to meet the older man before he went to university.

“Good morning, A-Sheng. I told you, you didn’t have to do this. I can cook breakfast just fine,” the older man told the kid gently.

The young man only smiled. “I just like seeing you every morning, Ren-gege. I’ll have to go too. I have classes. Bye, Ren-gege!”

Just like that, QiRen’s mornings were filled with A-Sheng welcoming him with donuts that he barely ate but nonetheless opened because of the cute messages in the boxes. Today, it wrote in a legible scribble: You’re as beautiful as the day I met you. I hope you’ll have a great day today. - JWS

“Silly boy,” QiRen mumbled but his heart was tickled.

—xxx—

A-Sheng ran to the Lan gates and was about to sit on the sidewalk like always when he heard the gates open. The guard (the same one who let him enter that fateful night of his birthday) looked at him.

“Good morning, gege,” he bowed to the older man respectfully.

“Good morning, Young Master. Master QiRen wants you to come in.”

WuSheng blinked at that. That would be a first. He blinked a couple more times before he gave the other box of donuts to the older man. “This is for you, gege. And please call me A-Sheng.”

“If that’s what you wish, A-Sheng,” the guard let the boy in and watched him walk up to the mansion.

A-Sheng’s eyes took in the view of the mansion that the love of his life lived in. He needed to save more money to buy a house as grand as this one. He couldn’t possibly let his love downgrade when they start dating.

This mansion had those towers and turrets, the mansion in his mind should have skylights that would show his beloved the beauty of the sky no matter what weather they were experiencing. Maybe he should look for an area over a hill so it could look over the city. Yeah, something like that. Something good enough for his beloved Lan QiRen.

“Daydreaming much, A-Sheng?” A-Huan teased the younger man from the front door. He was ready for university with his blue hoodie and white trousers paired with white shoes.

“Yeah, daydreaming of a house I should buy for your uncle when he marries me,” A-Sheng replied unabashedly, grinning when Lan Huan, courtesy name Lan XiChen chuckled. “I cannot let him downgrade after all.”

XiChen just nodded and patted A-Sheng’s shoulder. “Best of luck, A-Sheng. I’ll get going now, I still have to pick up A-Cheng and drop him off at school.”

“You’re definitely whipped by my cousin.”

“You’re one to talk when you’ve been whipped by my uncle even before you could speak your name to him.”

The two young men chuckled as they walked in opposite directions.

“Good morning, A-Sheng. Have a seat and let’s eat breakfast.” It was a welcome that had A-Sheng’s heart stammering like crazy in his chest. Oh, this was a life that he’d love to have for the rest of his days. “Would you like coffee, hot chocolate, or milk?”

The younger man sat on the kitchen counter and put his box of donuts down before clearing his throat. “G-good morning, Ren-gege. Hot chocolate, please. How was your sleep?” He stared at the older man who was clad in a white long-sleeved button-down shirt with a light blue vest over it. His trousers were black and stiff as a board.

QiRen’s hair was neatly tied back with a white ribbon with patterns of clouds on it. It would be a lie if WuSheng said he didn’t imagine tying QiRen up with it.

“It was great. I managed to get eight hours of sleep so I feel rested,” the older man served a plate full of eggs, sausages, two pieces of pancakes, a slice of bread on it, and a mug of steaming hot chocolate. “How about yours?”

“I went to sleep at three in the morning and woke up before five in the morning for my morning run,” A-Sheng replied. “Thank you for the delicious breakfast, Ren-gege. I appreciate it a lot.”

“Having so little sleep at night is not healthy,” QiRen scolded as he took a seat across from the younger man. “You should be sleeping eight hours a night.”

A-Sheng smiled sheepishly at that. “I nap in the afternoon, Ren-gege, before I go to work.”

QiRen sighed and nodded at A-Sheng’s food. “Eat and recharge before you go to school.”

“Thank you for the food, Ren-gege.”

Their daily breakfast brought the two men closer to each other. Their stories that started from school and work topics slowly moved to more personal ones. They talked about astronomy, the world, their friends, and their hobbies.

Soon enough, these breakfasts became an integral part of their daily lives.

—xxx—

It took Jiang WuSheng three years to finally make Lan QiRen go on a date with him. Three long years that he hadn’t felt because of all the daily breakfasts with the older man.

“A-Cheeeeeng!!! I need to look good for my date!” Jiang WuSheng, twenty-one years of age, panicked at the prospect of not looking good enough for his first real date with Lan QiRen.

“For the love of all the gods and goddesses, Sheng-ge! I told you already! You look good in anything! You’re literally an effin’ model!” A-Cheng yelled at his cousin who was still pacing in Jiang Cheng’s room. “If you don’t get out of my room within three seconds, I will break your legs and THEN you won’t be able to have your date with Shufu. That way, he would not see how UGLY you look right now. There, problem solved!”

A-Sheng knew when A-Cheng was at the end of his wits so as a last resort of pissing his cousin off, he grabbed A-Cheng’s face and kissed his cheek before running out of the bedroom with a laugh.

“Bastard!”

—xxx—

WuSheng pulled the chair out for QiRen and offered to take the bouquet of flowers from the older man. “I heard from XiChen-ge and Wangji-di that you like it here so…” He sat down and fidgeted as he waited for QiRen’s reaction.

“Why are you nervous?” QiRen asked, a small smile adorning his pinkish face. “It’s not our first time eating together.”

“But it’s our first time eating out and going on a date,” WuSheng pointed out with a small and delighted smile. “This is the most amazing night of my life!”

“River?”

Jiang WuSheng’s smile slowly dimmed as his face went pale when an older man walked to their table. He looked at CEO Yao and prayed that a bolt of lightning might strike him. “CEO Yao, it’s nice to see you here.” He plastered his customer service smile and wished that the man would leave them alone.

CEO Yao, short, chubby, and quite snotty looked at Lan QiRen and raised a brow. “I didn’t know that the Grandmaster of Cloud Recesses would be the one to–”

“CEO Yao, we signed contracts, remember?” A-Sheng’s hand fisted on the table and both older men’s eyes landed on his fist.

“A-Sheng…” QiRen reached forward and covered A-Sheng’s fist with his hand. “Calm down…”

CEO Yao only smirked at A-Sheng. “What, your boyfriend doesn’t know what you do for a living? He doesn’t know how crazy you could go for money?” His tongue slid over his lips while staring at WuSheng up and down like a hungry predator.

“Do tell me,” QiRen’s voice was calm but his hand tightened around WuSheng’s fist. “Tell me what he does for money.”

CEO Yao’s smirk dimmed and so did his attitude but he huffed and leaned forward, pressing his palms on their table so he could be face-to-face with QiRen. “With the right amount of money, he would go rough on you and fuck you like you’re the most beautiful person he knows. He would let you dominate him, edge him, and even fuck him if you’re in the mood for it. But you see… his thick dick is the best for riding. Especially when he’s blindfolded because he turns into such a stallion.”

QiRen smirked at that. “Oh, is that so? I’ll keep that in mind. Now, will that be all? I hope a client like you will NOT disturb his date with his boyfriend ever again. Basic etiquette, don’t you think?”

CEO Yao flinched at that like he was given a backhand to the face.

“Oh, and don’t worry,” QiRen continued as he turned to face WuSheng while rubbing the younger man’s fist with his thumb. “I’ll have him do everything you told me about. I bet he’ll rearrange my guts like a champ then.”

WuSheng choked on air and CEO Yao walked away from them with a face that could compete against the stop light.

“Hmmm… He finally left,” QiRen mumbled, his thumb still rubbing against WuSheng’s fist. “Relax now, A-Sheng.”

“Y-you… you s-said… you said… that…” WuSheng was pretty sure that he was a blushing mess at this point but he didn’t care. He had to confirm what he had heard. “You said…”

“Yes, I’m your boyfriend and yes, I want you to rearrange my guts.”

—xxx—

Did Jiang WuSheng expect that he and Lan QiRen would end up in QiRen’s overly white and clean bedroom at the end of the night? Did he think that he would have a chance for sex when all that he was expecting was a kiss on the cheek or maybe (if he was lucky) on the lips? No. But here he was, removing his clothes so he could have a shower before he could rearrange Lan QiRen’s guts.

May the gods and goddesses help him.

—xxx—

Did Lan QiRen plan on sleeping with Jiang WuSheng after their date tonight? Did he expect that they’d end up naked on his bed with the young man cracking his back like a damn lightstick? Yes. Definitely. Wasn’t that the reason why he had a plug inside him right now?

That damn client (no… former client now because Jiang WuSheng had immediately called his company about CEO Yao’s breach of contract. That man will be banned by A-Sheng’s company. Good riddance) actually helped QiRen form his courage even more. Without him, there might have been a chance that QiRen would have changed his mind. But now, he didn’t.

He didn’t want to change his mind. He wanted Jiang WuSheng to nail him and make him feel alive. Wasn’t this the reason why he had been preparing himself with various toys so their first time would not be as painful as his researchers claimed?

This was his time to shine. No time to overthink. No time to be anxious. He wanted Jiang WuSheng and he’ll–

His mind was short-circuited when Jiang WuSheng came out of the bathroom with only a white towel covering his private parts. How can anyone look so fucking delicious? Tall physique, broad chest, abs that promise good core strength, and huge hands that would hold QiRen down while he was being overpowered.

“Ren-gege…” WuSheng took a couple of steps toward the older man and knelt in front of QiRen. “Are you sure about this? I… I can wait.”

QiRen smirked at that and placed his right foot over WuSheng’s lap, teasing the younger man’s covered crotch with his foot. WuSheng’s whimper made QiRen even more playful. “Are you sure you can wait?”

The younger man pressed his forehead against QiRen’s knee while his hands grabbed that naughty leg lightly. “Ren-gege… such a tease…”

“Just come and fuck me, WuSheng.” It wasn’t a request. It was an order.

“I don’t want to fuck you, Ren-gege,” WuSheng replied as he gently pushed the older man onto the soft bed. “I want to make love to you.”

—xxx—

Their lips joined and followed a dance that they’d never tried together before. It was soft and tentative at first but soon, the fire ignited and the heat took no time to spread all over their bodies.

WuSheng’s hands became curious as they traced QiRen’s body slowly but surely. One by one, QiRen’s clothing revealed a body taken care of by eating healthy and exercising. It wasn’t as muscular as WuSheng’s but it was firm and strong.

And it deserved to be loved and worshipped.

Something glimmering caught WuSheng’s eyes while he was pulling QiRen’s boxers down and his eyes grew big as he realized what it was between QiRen’s buttcheeks. He looked up at the older man and chuckled at how red QiRen had become.

“Were you preparing for me?” he asked, already breathless from holding back.

“Y-yes… yes…” QiRen replied before pulling the younger man over his body once more for some more kissing. “Kiss me… Kiss me while you enter me, WuSheng.”

And that was exactly what WuSheng did. He parted QiRen’s legs while their lips joined and sucked. His movements were precise in pulling out that cold toy from QiRen’s tightness and putting a condom around himself. All these before he pushed into that deliciously warm and tight hole.

His grunt mingled with QiRen’s gasp and moan. “Ren-gege… so tight…”

QiRen moaned against their joined lips before pulling back and whispering, “you’re just so thick…” And he was right. Of course, WuSheng’s length was good but his thickness? It was almost enough to make QiRen come. “Y-you’re… you’re opening me so wide.”

Years of holding back had WuSheng kissing those deliciously soft lips as he pushed his whole length inside his… boyfriend. Lan QiRen was now his boyfriend. Wasn’t that such an adventure? Once he was sure that the older man was used to his size, he let out the power of his hips.

He knelt back and pulled QiRen towards his pelvis, making the older man arch up his back. And the thrusting began. Slow, hard thrusts filled the room with the sound of their skin slapping and the protest of the bed under them.

His eyes took in the view in front of him.

Lan QiRen was pinkish from his chest up to the roots of his hair. His nipples were twitching and swollen from all the sucking and pinching WuSheng did to them. His cock continuously dripped creamy cum that pooled onto his flat but hickey-filled stomach. His chest heaved up and down from the effort of it all.

“What’s your color?” WuSheng asked, slowing down even more.

The older man frowned at the question and looked at WuSheng. “What do you mean?”

“Uhm… you know… green-yellow-red?”

QiRen seemed to think about it. Then he looked back at WuSheng. “Is there a color for FASTER?”

WuSheng let out a breath of laughter before pinning the older man down with his whole weight. “If you want faster, I’ll give you faster,” he whispered and that was exactly what he did.

—xxx—

QiRen threw his head back from the pleasure of getting impaled with a thick cock from below. Thank God for the squats he continued to do every night because, without those, his knees would have given out from under him.

That bastard CEO Yao was correct when he said WuSheng was a stallion.

QiRen had been bouncing for only the gods know how long and WuSheng was not showing any sign of stopping in the near future. He could already feel WuSheng’s cum sloshing inside him. So much. Too much cum. Gods… Was the kid a faucet or something?

“Eyes on me, love,” WuSheng demanded and pulled QiRen’s face closer to his. “Eyes on me.”

QiRen could only nod and fall over that strong chest as he let the younger man continue having his way with his old body.

—xxx—

“We didn’t get to try using toys,” QiRen mumbled the next morning while WuSheng was still half asleep. “I want to try toys.”

WuSheng mumbled. “We’ll try them all next time. One at a time, love.”

QiRen looked at the young man’s face and huffed. But he leaned down and kissed those swollen lips. “You’re lucky I love you or else I’d keep you here as my fuck toy.”

“If you really loved me, you’d keep me here as your fucktoy,” WuSheng responded with a grin.

BONUS: A Gift to Odette who always supports me. Odette, I hope you like this as much as you liked the other one.

QiRen heard the shuffling in his bedroom but he didn’t move from the bed and continued to pretend he was asleep. What followed was the sound of the shower. He knew his young lover would be tired from his university work. Even after WuSheng retired from his job, he still had very little time to rest because of the demands of his university.

A couple of minutes pass by and the bed creak under the additional 200 pounds on it. Soon, QiRen was wrapped in strong and muscular arms, his nape fanned with the warm breath, and his ass getting probed by a stiff cock.

He chuckled and turned around to face his lover who was wearing his birthday suit. “Hi, love…”

“I’m sorry to wake you, love,” WuSheng mumbled, his lips already pressing against QiRen’s.

The older man’s hand cupped the hard member between them and smiled when WuSheng’s body trembled at the contact. “Would you like to be inside me or would you like me to be inside you?”

WuSheng laughed weakly at that but he kept mouthing at QiRen’s neck. “You inside me, please. But I might pass out so…”

“I’ll take care of it, baby…”

And that’s what he did. He got over his oversized puppy boyfriend and rained kisses all over WuSheng’s sleepy face before moving to that thick neck, reveling at the feeling of WuSheng’s shivers and hearing his moans.

QiRen captured a nipple and sucked on it, played it with the tip of his tongue, and finally nipped at it. The arch of WuSheng’s body pushed him to do more. Hallelujah for WuSheng’s huge and honest body.

His hands and mouth worked full time to please his tired lover until he got to WuSheng’s cock which got cat licks and little kisses that made WuSheng whimper.

“R-Ren-gege… please…”

“Okay, love… Sorry…” The older man spread WuSheng’s thighs apart and smiled at how WuSheng’s hole glistened and clenched at nothing. “Did you prepare yourself for me?”

“Yes… I want you… Now… Please…”

QiRen hovered over the younger man and kisses his eyelids one by one. “My hardworking boyfriend…” One finger in and WuSheng was gasping.

QiRen found that little hole gripping his finger greedily. “You’re so eager, A-Sheng.”

Tears threatened to fall from WuSheng’s eyes as he looked up at QiRen pleadingly. “I need you… Gege… please… fuck me… Fuck me til I pass out. Fuck me even while I’m asleep. Please?”

QiRen may be strict but he was never strict with his lover. So he captured WuSheng’s lips, pulled his finger out, and pushed his length in, groaning at the tightness that sucked him in.

WuSheng whimpered but he held onto his lover tightly. Soon enough, he was moving his hips on his own accord, chasing his own pleasure like crazy.

Their breaths mingled as their bodies moved in sync. Their lips would meet and join every couple of thrusts and with every deep thrust, WuSheng would dig his nails into QiRen’s shoulders.

Soon, their movements lost their sync. WuSheng stopped moving and QiRen pulled WuSheng’s muscular legs over his shoulders (thank the creators for the Lan strength) and thrust as hard as he could.

“R-Ren… Ren-gege… A-almost!”

“It's okay, baby. Go ahead. I’ll take care of you.”

A couple more thrusts in and WuSheng was spilling his seed all over his torso but QiRen continued his movements. Even when WuSheng had fallen asleep, QiRen continued to chase his own pleasure until he too, spilled his seed deep inside his lover.

QiRen woke up panting and moaning, his left leg lifted and his ass filled with WuSheng’s overly excitable cock. “M-morning… Good morning…”

“Good morning, love,” WuSheng pulled QiRen’s head back and mouthed at his neck and jaw while still snapping his hips like crazy. “I’m well rested now.” “I… I can see… t-that! Ah!”

[save-the-data]

How to Kill a Mystery Novel Writer | s01e01

Chinese Drama - 2023, 26 episodes

~~ Adapted from the web novel "Xuan Yi Zuo Zhe Qiu Sheng Zhi Nan" (悬疑作者求生指南) by Guo Yi Man (果玉蛮 )

~ Episode List ~ |  ~ Chinese Drama Master List ~

[suihime]

The Life of Mary Sue

Chapter 2

After leaving the room in a daze, Cheng Xueyi realized that she had taken the blame for the original owner again.

Just now, Xu Qiyan was obviously mocking her for wanting to climb high, but she couldn't refute it.

Cheng Xueyi was a little annoyed. This kind of annoyance was like realizing that she hadn't performed well just after arguing with someone. It was a bit of an afterthought. In fact, if she went back in time, she might not necessarily refute it as well. How could she refute? She knew that the original owner's mind was indeed not pure.

Although the original owner really liked Xu Qiyan, she also liked the dazzling aura attached to his name.

For example, inexhaustible money and supreme status.

It was written in the book that Xu Qiyan's family was an affluent one. Right now, he was only a president of a subsidiary company, but it wouldn't take long before he took over the head position from his father, and become Sheng Jia Group's heir with hundreds of billions of assets.

As a bigwig in the business world, the Xu family has a strong background in addition to their strong financial resources. They have deep connections and contacts in the military, political and business circles. How can such a famous family with background and money not attract everyone?

The original owner naturally wanted to embrace this thick, golden thigh.

Cheng Xueyi disdained this kind of thing, but in Xu Qiyan's eyes, she was the original owner. She couldn't say that she just transmigrated here, and has nothing to do with those things, right?

Forget it, Cheng Xueyi shook her head, thinking that anyway, she would not have many chances to contact Xu Qiyan in the future. At worst, just walk around him.

At the same time, Su Yu, who was walking by the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief.She didn't have a dark face anymore. She began to persuade Cheng Xueyi earnestly, "This matter is over, and you should understand that Xu Qiyan is not someone you can reach. Keep yourself safe and film well in the future, do you hear me?"

"I know, Sister Su, I will do my best."

Satisfied, Su Yu went to the elevator hall and pressed the down button. Then she suddenly remembered something, "Speaking of which, if Shi Yi didn't appear suddenly today, the matter might not be resolved so quickly."

"Shi Yi?" Cheng Xueyi, who was thinking about things, suddenly raised her head. "Sister Su, you said that the person who barged in earlier was Shi Yi?"

Su Yu gave her a strange look. "Yes. Why are you so surprised as if you don't know him?"

"No, it's okay." Cheng Xueyi found that her memories with the original owner might not have been well integrated, and there would be cases where they didn't match up.

Fortunately, Su Yu's focus was not on this. She folded her arms and frowned slightly. "Isn't today's incident too strange? Shi Yi is an artist of Jin Yue . He dares to trespass the President of Shengjia's office but President Xu doesn't seem to be surprised or angry"

Su Yu said that she couldn't umderstand it at all.

But for Cheng Xueyi, who has read the entire book, this was too easy to explain.

Why would he dare?

The reason was very simple, because Shi Yi was the younger brother of the president inside, and the second young master of the Xu family!

Shi Yi was the popular second male lead in the novel. This second brother has no interest in the family property, so he changed his name to join the entertainment industry from scratch. He did not depend on his background, only relying on his excellent appearance and strong professional ability. Mixing well in the circle, he was a well-deserved top traffic niche.

Of course, it was impossible to tell Su Yu about it.

She pretended to be ignorant, and echoed, "It's really strange."

Su Yu didn't expect Cheng Xueyi to express any insight, so she didn't continue the topic after hearing her reply.

The two met today just to meet Xu Qiyan, and now they have to work on their own things.

Cheng Xueyi first returned to the original owner's residence.

The original owner had just debuted and had no money, so she rented a small apartment of about 30 square meters in the outskirts of the city.

As soon as the door was opened, she could see the entire apartment. There was very little furniture. Except for a double bed, there was only a simple wardrobe, and the limited space was filled with clothes.

It looked really shabby.

Fortunately, Cheng Xueyi didn't have a good life in her previous life, so the sense of gap was not too big.

She locked the door, threw her bag on the bed and went to the bathroom.

Speaking of which, she still didn't know what the original owner looked like.

The description of the female supporting role in the book was that her temperament was similar to that of the female lead, her appearance was pure and outstanding, but she was stupid and vicious on the inside, and she couldn't play well with a good hand.

The female supporting lead should look pretty good.

The face in the mirror did not disappoint Cheng Xueyi.

The original owner had a delicate oval face, fair skin, full of collagen, beautiful smiling lips, and a distinct pair of slightly raised almond eyes.

This kind of pure and unaffected beauty was natural. Although she was mentally prepared, this… this was too beautiful!

Cheng Xueyi liked this look very much. All of a sudden, the uneasiness of being a newcomer dissipated a lot, her whole body seemed to be running on the Hulunbuir prairie, and her mood became more open.

With such a face, as long as she didn't act like a demon, she should be able to live well.

Cheng Xueyi was really afraid of the bad luck from her previous life. Now that her identity has changed, she secretly made up her mind to live a different life from her previous life.

That night, Cheng Xueyi was so excited that she couldn't fall asleep because of her beautiful vision of the future.

Seeing the sky outside the window gradually changed from dark blue to duck-egg cyan, and the sun also appeared from the east, she felt a little drowsy.

However, not long after closing her eyes, the phone beside the pillow buzzed and vibrated.

She dazedly pressed the answer button and heard Su Yu slapped her face on the other end of the line and said: "I suddenly remembered, you should go to the crew early today. The filming schedule was delayed yesterday, so see if there is any scene that needs to be re-shot today. Didn't I say that you, as a newcomer, needs to be more diligent and self-conscious? Don't let me worry about everything."

Cheng Xueyi recalled that she was currently filming with the group, and she had to ask for leave yesterday to see Xu Qiyan.

The hour hand of the wall clock on the wall just pointed to seven. Cheng Xue thought about the bright future she had imagined, gritted her teeth and sat up, "Sister Su, I'm getting up now."

...

The director was staring at several staff members that were making preparations before shooting.

Cheng Xueyi walked over and greeted the director politely, "Morning Director Liu."

Liu Yuan didn't like Cheng Xueyi. He thought this girl was very difficult to deal with, her acting skills were terrible, and she was arrogant like a peacock, which gave him a headache.

At this moment, although he was surprised by her polite greeting, he didn't have a good face. He cleared his throat, and only gave a serious hum in response.

Cheng Xueyi felt that the original owner's poor performance in the past had a lot to do with her low IQ. Obviously, she was not well-known, and yet she was so arrogant. and her mouth was not sweet.

Now that this body has changed souls, she must work hard to change this situation with an attitude of being responsible to herself and the original owner.

But changing everyone's opinion was not an overnight matter, she couldn't be in a hurry.

Cheng Xueyi pursed her lips and smiled sincerely. "Director Liu, I'm sorry. I asked for leave yesterday and delayed the progress of the filming."

"Heh." A mocking voice suddenly came from behind, "You've become eloquent after not seeing you for a day."

Looking over her head, she saw Song Qing and her assistant walking towards her.

Song Qing was the heroine of this play. Although they were both newcomers, it was said that Song Qing has a background, so she naturally poses high.

"Xueyi, you don't even know how smooth our filming was without you yesterday," Song Qing frowned, "After all, there is no NG queen, and we finished work before dark!

"But it's a pity " She clicked her tongue twice, pretending to be disappointed, "I missed a chance to see your fancy NG."

The people around burst into laughter.

The original owner has no reputation nor background, so everyone didn't need to take her emotions and face into consideration.

It was embarrassing to be ridiculed openly, but Cheng Xueyi didn't want to admit defeat, so she said, "I will also let everyone finish work early today."

Song Qing covered her lips as if she heard some joke. She smiled, and then said to the staffs present, "Did you hear that? Xueyi said that we will stop working early today."

Song Qing originally had a pure and lovely appearance, but at this moment it was distorted by her mean expression. She moved closer to Cheng Xueyi and used a voice that was not too loud or too low and could be heard by everyone around,

"Then, if you can't do it, please invite the whole crew to drink milk tea."

Song Qing probably knew that the original owner was very poor so she made this bet.

Cheng Xueyi checked the original owner's savings yesterday. How poor was the original owner? Let's put it this way, it would cost about one-third of her savings to invite the entire crew to drink a cup of milk tea. It could be said that poverty was very real.

This time, she couldn't lose, or she would lose face.

Cheng Xueyi put away her cautiousness, and put on a calm calm face.

"Then if I succeded, will Sister Qing invite the whole crew to drink milk tea?"

"Of course, it's no problem."

"That's a deal."

...

After putting on makeup, Song Qing's scene was filmed first.

Cheng Xueyi obediently sat next to the director and studied the script carefully. This was a campus web drama called "Sentimental Memorial". It was a story about a school bully and an innocent little fairy that was very popular nowadays. Cheng Xueyi played the role of the male lead's unrequitted love, an arrogant school flower.

The reason why Cheng Xueyi dared to argue with Song Qing was not because she was too proud. She had been a backround performer for three years in her previous life, an extra, and she had put in a lot of hard work during that time. Although she hadn't played characters with lines, she usually observed others carefully. So this kind of role was not too difficult for her.

Soon, it was Cheng Xueyi's turn to play with Song Qing. She took off her coat and began to walk calmly.

Director Liu stared closely at the monitor. The girl in the camera was slender. At this moment, she raised her head slightly, with a look of arrogance and contempt.

Emotions were well under control.

The cameraman and background performers next to him looked like they were waiting to see a good show: "I don't know how many times we're going to NG again today~"

Director Liu didn't take his eyes off the monitor, and just stopped in a low voice. "Shut up."

Xueyi was not affected at all in front of the camera. She stood in front of Song Qing, like a tall and arrogant young lady, but there was a trace of uncertain fragility in the corners of her eyes and brows. "Why are you wearing Ah Zhe's coat? He hates others touching his stuff the most."

Song Qing was still holding on to the mentality of watching a good show and with ridicule a second ago, but she was a little confused when Cheng Xueyi opened her mouth. She shouldn't be this smooth with her lines!

How could that be possible? Obviously a few days ago, she played a scene more than 20 times.

Song Qing who was leaning against the bare corner of the wall, forgot to respond for a while, and was stunned before saying. "He lent this to me."

Following these words, Cheng Xueyi's mood began to change, and her original calm mask was broken. She stretched out her hand hysterically to pull Song Qing's gray woolen coat, "It's impossible! You take it off! What right do you have to wear his clothes?"

The studio staff and waiting actors were stunned.

Today, the queen of NG, has no NG?

And she seemed to be completely in the play?

Everyone was still in shock, when they suddenly heard the director call cut.

Everyone turned their gazes to Director Liu, only to hear Liu Yuan say: "Song Qing was bad just now, another take!"

? ? ? ! ! !

This plot was so magical!

And this magical plot seemed to have no intention to end.

Cheng Xueyi completed the following scenes very smoothly.

Silky smooth without errors.

So in the evening, all the crew members were happy to call it a day. And by the way, each of them were holding a cup of milk tea that Song Qing had bought.

When Cheng Xueyi came out after changing her clothes, it was a coincidence that she ran into Song Qing who had just come out of the waiting room. Her expression was dark that the King of Hell would be afraid to see her.

However, Cheng Xueyi didn't seem to notice it, she raised the milk tea in her hand to Song Qing, and smiled very humbly and respectfully: "Thank you sister Qing for the milk tea."

Table of Contents

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

[swiftletinthecloud]

Second Half of Ep 27

Yes! I knew Di Fei Sheng was faking it to fool Jiao Li Qiao and get more info of what she's doing.

Yikes, Shan Gu Dao was involved in some shady business, especially with the fact that he got the cloud iron armor and sword, and likely related to that shady new sect working with the Jinyuan Alliance. A post said a twist would be if he's the Master behind the scene, but we saw his dead body recovered and buried and not just people saying/thinking he died 10 years ago like Li Xiang Yi and Di Fei Sheng so I don't think that's likely but definitely still a shady man.

Ugh Jiao Li Qiao using her spies to fool the new Sigu Sect into thinking Li Lian Hua is a Jinyuan Alliance spy so they'd get rid of him for her. Haven't seen Ep 28, but hoping that with Fang Duo Bing nearby at Pudu Temple, as soon as he catches wind of them going after Li Lian Hua and that he's in trouble, Fang Duo Bing will go save him even tho they're not on good terms.

That bit at then end with Li Lian Hua saying it's been 6 days and he can't wait any longer. 😭 Before it's been Li Lian Hua dropping Fang Duo Bing at the side of the road and leaving with the Lotus Tower but this time he waited, hoping Fang Duo Bing would return. 😭

[clandestine-poet]

Alright, a little less coherent now, but oh god I think I dreamed about this while in surgery. That, or some God blessed (or potentially cursed) me with more thoughts.

I have a bit more of a full role swap list. I'll probably write a few one shots first because TGCF is a brick (/aff). Also, cis-swapping for Hualian only.

Below the cut is spoliers!! In fact, I should just tag this whole thing as spoilers. It's goofy. I am bad at not spoiling. But I hope you enjoy!!!

The Decided List

Xie Lian <--> Hua Cheng

Xie Lian: Silver Sword Seeking Blood

Hua Cheng: Blood Storming Martial Goddess/Her Highness Who Pleased the Gods

Shi Qingxuan <--> Pei Xiu

Shi Qingxuan: Little General Shi

Pei Xiu: Fire Master Xiu/The Young Lord Who Spilt the Oil

Shi Wudu <--> Pei Ming

Shi Wudu: General Wu Guang of the East/The General Who Burned His Ships

Pei Ming: Earth Master Ming

He Xuan <--> Ban Yue

He Xuan: He Sheng ("Congradulate" "Scholar") Preceptor

Ban Yue: Black Mountain Devouring Souls/ """"Gui Yi""" (姽仪) The Wind Master

Feng Xin <--> Quan Yizhen

Feng Xin: General [unsure], Martial God of the East

Quan Yizhen: General [unsure], Martial God of South-East

Mu Qing <--> Yin Yu

Mu Qing: The Rose-Thorned Officer, former Martial God of East and now Banished

Yin Yu: General [unsure], Martial God of South-West

Yushi Huang <--> Ling Wen

Yushi Huang: Top Civil Goddess Yushi Huang Zhen Jun (Mostly Diplomacy/Information Based)

Ling Wen: Water Master Wen/The Princess Who Carved the Sea

The Undecided List

Lang Qianqiu <--> Qi Rong ????????????????????

Xiao Ying <--> Lang Ying ?????

Xuan Ji <--> Bai Jing (The Brocade Immortal)??????????????????????

The I Don't Even Know List/Might Not Swap???

Jian Lan?????????? / An Le??????????????? (literally makes no sense)

Jun Wu???????? / might not swap him but instead change his motives to fit fafa more???

Mei Nianqing?????? / MAYBE someone from the gambler's den? make him a gambling ghost????

GUZI????? HELP???? CHILDREN???

So Quickly, here's my elemental master list. I did add the fire master because I like it.

Fire Master: Pei Xiu Thunder Master: (OC cause there is no one) Lin Zhenshi Wind Master: "Gui Yi" aka Ban Yue Water Master: Ling Wen Earth Master: Pei Ming Rain Master: ...uh oh.

a full rewrite.

a full role reversal TGCF where Hua Cheng is the noble dianxia and Xie Lian is the ghost king but:

• make it a TRUE role reversal. What would Hua Cheng (Hong Hong-er) do in Dianxia Xie Lian's place? What would Xie Lian do in little Hong Hong-er's?

• role swap EVERYONE. BUT don't do the obvious. because i have seen the obvious, and i am quite annoying in finding a new way to do this. for example, instead of switching shi qingxuan and he xuan, switch shi wudu, shi qingxuan and he xuan with pei ming, pei siu and ban yue. why? cause it's interesting. and i like it.

• make it hualesbians because i am a useless lesbian and also just like lesbians. but don't just gender swap, make that fact effect the story, since sexism is canon in tgcf. think ling wen.

• also ngl, im in the works of this. i just don't have a beta reader and i kind of feel bad but tbh I just like writing

• don't make it blow for blow, but def follow some stuff. because like, this whole series carved out my heart. i just now want to throw a bunch of "what if's" at it because it's funny and i think i need to stop re-writing classical literature as lesbian (so far, my list is: the great gatsby, lord of the flies, the count of monte cristo, of mice and men, a christmas carol and a few others)

• come up with all their designs yourself because you're petty and want to be historically accurate and boy has anyone ever mentioned you have a hyperfixation on historical textiles and weaponry because oh boy i'm so sorry in advance

[dramaddict-and-proud-of-it]

One and Only

Year : 2021 | Country : CN | Nb of episodes: 24

My rate: 6/10

Synopsis :

Zhou Sheng Chen was raised by his brother, the Emperor, until the age of thirteen, when he set out to defend the border and establish himself as a loyal and accomplished general. Cui Shi Yi, the well-read daughter of an esteemed family, has been betrothed to the Crown Prince since birth. However, political scheming and tragic events result in Cui Shi Yi falling mute, her former fiance becoming a child Emperor, and Zhou Sheng Chen returning to the capital amidst a cloud of political turmoil.

Against the Cui family's protests, the Empress Dowager Regent changes the terms of Cui Shi Yi's betrothal. Her new fiance is the Emperor's sickly, young companion and the future Crown Prince, if he can survive long enough to come of age. Zhou Sheng Chen accepts Cui Shi Yi as his disciple to resolve lingering animosity between the royal family and the Cui family, and Cui Shi Yi suddenly finds herself leaving her sheltered life in the capital for Zhou Manor in the Western State.

Despite their differences as a mute and sheltered young noblewoman from the capital and a battle-hardened general, Zhou Sheng Chen and Cui Shi Yi soon form a strong bond as master and disciple. However, their relationship is impeded by their respective principles and responsibilities, while the ongoing power struggle in the palace constantly threatens to entangle them both once more.

Main cast :

Ren Jia Lun as Zhou Sheng Chen

Bai Lu as Cui Shi Yi

My thoughts on this drama :

Although this is pobably Bai Lu's best performance to date, I unfortunately found this show pretty underwhelming.

Allen Ren is an amazing actor, but his lack of expressions in this one left me disappointed.

I know it is also part of his character, but there is a fine line between interesting aloofness and plain boring blandness.

A Favorite ?

NO

[bookofjin]

Rise of Sixteen States: 310

[Emperor Guangwen of Han dies. Shi Le travels south. Opposition to Li Xiong fractures.]

16 February 310 – 4 February 311

(Jin's 4th Year of Yongjia)

(Han's 2nd Year of Herui, 1st Year of Guangxing)

(Cheng's 3rd Year of Yanping)

(Liu Yuan)

2nd Year of Herui, Spring, 1st Month [16 February – 16 March], Liu Yuan installed his wife Ms. Shan as August Empress. His son, the King of Liang, He, became August Heir-Apparent, and there was a great amnesty. He ennobled his son Yi as King of Beihai, and used the King of Changle, Yang, as Great Marshal.

2nd Month [17 March – 15 April], Cao Ni from Daliang pulled in the troops and went east. Where he arrived everyone surrendered, and he thereupon overcame Dongping, and advanced to attack Langye.

Summer, 4th Month [15 May – 13 June], Wang Jun's general Qi Hong attacked Han's Inspector of Ji province, Liu Ling, at Guangzong, and killed him.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], the King of Chu, Cong, the King of Shi'an, Yao, Shi Le, and the Great General who Calms the North, Zhao Gu, besieged the Grand Warden of Henei, Pei Zheng, at Huai. Decreed the General who Conquers the Scoundrels, Song Chou, to aid Huai. Le and the Great General who Pacifies the North, Wang Sang, confronted and struck Chou, and killed him. The people of Henei apprehended Zheng to surrender. The Ruler of Han, Yuan, used Zheng as Assistant of the Left to the Masters of Writing. The Controller Commander of Henei, Guo Mo, gathered and ordered the remaining multitudes, and made himself a fortifications master. Liu Kun used Mo as Grand Warden of Henei.

On gengwu [20 August], Yuan was bedridden with illness, and wanted to make plans for looking after his responsibilities.

On xinwei [20 August], he used the King of Chenliu, Huanle, as Grand Steward, the King of Changle, Yang, as Grand Tutor, the King of Jiangdu, Yan, as Grand Guardian, the King of Chu, Cong as Great Marshal and Great Chanyu, and also to Record the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, and set up the seat of the Chanyu to the west of Pingyang. He used the King of Qi, Yu, as Great Minister over the Masses, the King of Lu, Long, as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, the King of Beihai, Yi, as Great General who Consoles the Army, acting as Colonel Minister of Retainers, the King of Shi'an, Yao, as Great Chief-Controller of Conquering and Chastising, to act as Left Supporter of the Chanyu, the Commandant of Justice, Qiao Zhiming, as Great General of the Best of the Army, to act as Right Supporter of the Chanyu, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Left, Liu Yin, as Archer-Servant of the Left, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Right, Wang Yu as Archer-Servant of the Right, Ren Yi as Master of Writing of the Personnel Section, Zhu Ji as Overseer of the Palace Writers, Army-Protector Ma Jing to act as General of Guards of the Left, the King of Yong'an, Anguo to act as General of Guards of the Right. The King of Anchang, Sheng, the King of Anyi, Qin, and the King of Xiyang, Xuan all were to act as Generals of Martial Guards, and divide direction of the forbidden troops.

On dingchou [27 August], Yuan summoned the Grand Steward, Huanle, and others to enter within the forbidden quarters to receive the testamentary decree to assist the government.

On jimao [29 August], Yuan passed away in the Brilliant Pinnacle Hall.

9th Month, xinyou [10 October], he was buried in the Forever Brilliant Mound [Yongguangling]. His posthumous title was Brilliant and Civil [guangwen] August Emperor and his temple title Exalted Founder [gaozu].

(Liu He)

Liu He, courtesy name Xuantai, was eight chi tall. He was valiant, resolute and had a pleasing bearing and decorum, and he was fond of studying and quick to mature. He was familiar with Mao's Poetry, Mister Zuo's Spring and Autumn, and Mister Zheng's Changes. When he became the designated successor, he on the inside was very suspicions and spiteful, and he drove his subordinates without kindness.

When Yuan died, He inherited the bogus rank. The Lineage Corrector, Huyan You was the son of Yi. Yuan considered him without talent or action, and to the end of his life did not change his office. The Palace Attendant Liu Cheng had a long-standing hatred for the King of Chu, Cong. The Commandant of Guards, the King of Xichang, Rui, was ashamed he had not been part of the testamentary instructions. They therefore plotted with each other, and explained to He, saying:

The Previous Emperor did not think of plans for the light and the weighty, but made three kings control strong troops on the inside, and the Great Marshal grasp a millions soldiers and dwell in the nearby suburbs. Your Majesty now readily will become a throne lodger, and that is all. The calamitous difficulties of this are impossible to measure, [I] hope Your Majesty do something soon.

[Liu] He was precisely You's sister-son, and deeply considered it to be so.

On xinsi [31 August], at night, he summoned the King of Anchang, Sheng, the King of Anyi, Qin, and others, to announce to them. Sheng said:

The Previous Emperor is still in the coffin palace, and the four kings are not yet going against authority. Now to suddenly in a single morning make fish and meat of each other, Your Subject fear people will not eat Your Majesty's remnants. The Four Seas are not yet settled, the great legacy is just begun. [I] hope Your Majesty will consider above to put high completing the Emperor's vast foundation as his aspiration, and moreover block his hears and not listen to the words of this reckless negligence. The Poetry states: “Are there no other people? None as good as us of the same father.” If Your Majesty already does not trust the various younger brother, then who can be trusted!

You and Rui were furious with him, and said:

In the discussions of today, nothing of the the reasoning has been the twice,. What is the army leader talking about!

They instructed left and right to cut him down. When Sheng was dead, Qin fearfully said:

Indeed at Your Majesty's decree, Your Subject and others will die serving it, and never will not be of service.

Therefore there swore an oath with each other in the eastern hall.

On renwu [1 September], Rui led Ma Jing to attack the King of Chu at the Chanyu's Terrace. You led the King of Yong'an, Anguo, to attack the King of Qi, Yu, at the Minister over the Masses' Office. Cheng led the King of Anyi, Qin, to attack the King of Lu, Long. They sent the Master of Writing, Tian Mi, and the General of Marital Guards, Liu Xuan, to attack the King of Beihai, Yi.

Mi, Xuan, and others held close Yi, had people cut through gate bar, and ran to Cong. Cong instructed to put on armour to wait for them. Rui recognized that Cong was prepared. He hurried back to meet up with You, Cheng, and others to attack Long and Yu. You and Cheng feared Anguo and Qin had different aspirations, and beheaded them. That day they beheaded Yu.

On guiwei [2 September], they beheaded Long.

On jiashen [3 September], Cong attacked the Ximing Gate, and overcame it. Rui and others ran to enter the Southern Palace. The vanguard followed them.

On yiyou [4 September], they beheaded He in the Brilliant Pinnacle Western Chamber. They gathered Rui, You, and Cheng, and put their heads on display at the crossroads.

(Liu Cong)

When Cong had killed his older brother He, the crowd of subjects urged him to accede to the venerated throne. Cong at first yielded to his younger brother, the King of Beihai, Yi. Yi and the excellencies and dignitaries wept tearfully, and firmly requested it. Cong after a long while then allowed it, saying:

Yi and the crowd of excellencies correctly considers that the Four Seas are not yet settled, and calamities and difficulties are still many, and prefer Your Orphan, long and old in years, and that is all. In these affairs of house of state, Your Orphan dares to not merely follow. Now [I] readily intend to obey Yin of Lu from far away, wait for Yi to come of age, and “return [the government] to my son the enlightened lawgiver.”

(During the Spring and Autumn era, Duke Yin, the son of a concubine, had become the ruler of Lu as regent for his younger brother, the future Duke Huan. However, in the end Duke Yin was assassinated before he could step down. Cong's final sentence is a quote from the Documents, from the Duke of Zhou's speech when he handed over the government to King Cheng.)

1st Year of Guangxing, Autumn, Cong fraudulently acceded to the throne of August Emperor. There was a great amnesty within his domains, and he changed the inaugural to Guangxing [“Brilliant Flourishing”]. He venerated Yuan's wife, Ms. Shan, as August Empress Dowager, and his mother Ms. Zhang, as Imperial Empress Dowager. He used Yi as August Brother-Heir, to act as Great Chanyu and Great Minister over the Masses. He installed his wife, Ms. Huyan, as August Empress. Ms. Huyan was the junior cousin of Yuan's Empress. He ennobled his sons, Can as King of Henei, with appointment as Envoy Holding the Tally, Great General who Consoles the Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs at Centre and Outside; Yi# as King of Hejian, Yi¤ as King of Pengcheng, and Kui as King of Gaoping.

Winter, 10th Month [8 November – 7 December], dispatched the King of Henei, Can, the Great General who Conquers the East, Wang Mi, the Dragon-Prancing General, Liu Yao, and others to lead a multitude of 40 000, to make a long drive and enter the Luo countryside. Thereupon they set out for Huanyuan. They went around between Liang, Chen, Ru, and Ying, and captured more than a hundred ramparts and fortifications.

11th Month [8 December – 5 January], Cong, since he himself had been installed out of sequence, was hostile to his older brother born by the principal wife, Gong. Following that, when Gong was asleep, [he?, they?] made a tunnel through his walls, stabbed and killed him.

He used the Minister of Works, Jing, as Great Marshal, the Brilliantly Blessed of the Left, Liu Yin, as Great Minister over the Masses, the Brilliantly Blessed of the Right, Wang Yu, as Great Minister of Works.

12th Month [6 January- 4 February], Empress Dowager Shan passed on.Shan was precisely Yi's mother, she was young of years with a beautiful appearance, Cong had sexual relations with her. Yi again and again talked about it. Ms. Shan was ashamed and indignant, and died. Cong grieved and mourned without end. Later he recognized her reasons, and Yi's favour following this gradually declined. However he still thought back on Ms. Shan, and was not yet ready to demote and depose him. He also venerated his mother Ms. Zhang as August Empress Dowager.

Empress Huyan talked to Cong, saying:

That when the father dies the son continues, is the regular way past and present. Your Majesty succeeded to Gaozu's legacy, why is there a Brother-Heir! A hundred years after Your Majesty, Can and his brothers will surely be without offspring.

Cong said:

So it is, I will deliberate it.

Ms. Huyan said:

[If] the affair is stalled, catastrophe is born. The Brother-Heir sees Can and his brothers gradually grow older, and will surely have intentions from unease. In the one out of ten thousand chance there is a mean person driving in wedges in his midst, it is not yet certain no calamity will issue out from the present day.

Cong in his heart considered it so. Yi's maternal uncle, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee Shan Chong, wept and spoke to Yi, saying:

The far apart is not among the close. The Ruler and Sovereign is thinking of the King of Henei. Your Highness, why would he not renounce you!

Yi said:

At the end of the Herui era, the Ruler and Sovereign, since indeed there is a division between [those born to] the principal wife and a commoner, used the great rank to yield to Yi. Yi, since the Ruler and Sovereign's teeth are long, was pushing him forward and offering him [the throne]. Under Heaven is Gaozu's Under Heaven. When the older brother is at the end, the younger brother catches up, why would it be impossible! Can and his brothers were already strong, similar to the present day. Moreover, distance between sons and brothers, how is it the distance between close and far apart. How could the Ruler possibly have this thought!

(TPYL, quoting Cui Hong's SLGCQ: Liu Cong of Former Zhao's 1st Year, 10th Month, Cong's general Zhao Gu and Jin's General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Shen opposed each other at Yan Ford. At the time there was yellow fog day and night, people could not see each other, and Gu's army was greatly defeated.)

(JS005: 10th Month … Wang Jun also dispatched his detached general Wang Shenshi chastised Le at Wenshi Ford, and greatly routed him.

11th Month: Wang Shenshi attacked Liu Yao and Wang Mi at Ping Rampart, and routed them.)

(Shi Le)

1st Year of Guangxing, 2ndMonth [17 March – 15 April], Shi Le and Yan Pi attacked Duquan and Yuanshi Ramparts, and captured them. Pin was hit by a drifting arrow and died. Le took combined command of his multitudes, He stealthily went from the Stone Bridge across the He, attacked and captured Baima, and buried more than 3 000 men and women.

He went east to assault Juancheng. The Inspector of Yan province, Yuan Fu, fought and was defeated, and was murdered by his section subordinates. Following that he attacked Cangyuan, captured it, and thereupon murdered Wang Kan. He crossed the He and attacked the various counties of Guangzong, Qinghe, Pingyuan, and Yangping. Those who surrendered Le were more than 90 000 mouths. He again went south to cross the He. The Grand Warden of Xingyang, Pei Chun, ran to Jianye.

Summer, in You, Bing, Si, Ji, Qi, and Yong provinces there was a great plague of locusts. They ate the grass and trees, and the cattle and horse hair are all gone.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], Liu Cong attacked Henei. Le led cavalry to meet up with him. He attacked the General of the Best of the Army, Liang Ju, at Wude. Emperor Huai dispatched troops to aid him. Le halted the various generals to defend Wude. He and Great General who Pacifies the North, Wang Sang, to confront Ju at Changling. Ju requested to surrender, Le would not allow it. Ju went over the walls and escaped, the army people apprehended him. Le hurried to go to Wude, buried more than ten thousand surrendered soldiers, counted out Liang Ju's crimes and murdered him. The kingly host withdrew and turned back. The various fortified places north of the He were greatly shaken, all requested to surrender, and sent off hostages to Le.

9th Month [10 October – 7 November], a native of Henei, Le Yang, seized the Grand Warden, Pei Zheng in rebellion, and surrendered to Le.

When Liu Yuan died, Liu Cong conferred on Lie Great General who Conquers the East, Inspector of Bing province, Duke of Ji commandery; Holding the Tally, Opening Office, Chief-Controller, Colonel, and King like before. Le firmly declined General, and he therefore desisted.

Wang Ru was a native of Xinfeng in Jingzhao. Earlier he was a provincial military functionary, coming across chaos, he drifted and moved to arrive at Wan. At the time various drifting people had been decreed to together be dispatched to go to back their home villages. Ru, since Guanzhong was wasted and withered, did not desire to return home. The General who Conquers the South, Shan Jian, and the Commander of the Gentlemen-at-Centre of the South, Du Rui, each dispatched troops to send him off, and shortened the appointed time to cause him to issue out. Ru thereupon secretly connected with the various who were undependable and young of years, and at night assaulting the two armies, routing them. Du Rui with all of his multitudes struck Ru. They fought at Nieyang, and Rui's army was greatly defeated.

Shan Jian was not able to withstand, and moved to station at Xiakou. Ru also routed Xiangcheng. Hence Pang Shi of Nan'an (or Xinping), Yan Ni of Pingyi, Hou Tuo of Chang'an, and others each led their partisans to attack the various cities and garrisons, and to great extent killed the prefects and chiefs in response to him. Within a short time, his multitudes reached forty or fifty thousand, and he declared himself Great General and nominal Shepherd of Si and Yong provinces.

Winter, 10th Month [8 November – 7 December], Liu Can led a multitude of 40 000 to rob Luoyang. Le kept behind the supply wagons at Zhongmen, and led 20 000 cavalry to meet up with Can at Dayang. They greatly defeated the kingly host at Mianchi, and thereupon arrived in the Luoyang countryside. Can set out for Huanyuan, and Le set out for Chenggao Pass.

On renyin [20 November], Le besieged Interior Clerk of Chenliu, Wang Zan, at Cangyuan. Zan struck and defeated him. Le fled north of the He to station at Wenshi Ford.

The King of Donghai, Yue, sent out a feathered proclamation to summon the troops Under Heaven. The Emperor spoke to the envoys, saying:

Make my speech to the various [Generals who] Conquers and Garrisons. At the present day [you] still can help. Later there will be nothing to come to.

At the time nobody had arrived.

Le wanted to go north and attack Wang Jun. It happened that Jun's general Wang Shenshi led the Xianbei of Liaoxi, more than 10 000 cavalry, to attack Zhao Gu to the north of the ford. Le therefore burnt the ships and abandoned the camp, pulled in the army and went toward Baimen, welcomed the supply wagons from Zhongmen, and arrived at Shimen. He crossed the He, and went south to attack the Inspector of Yu province, Feng Song, in Chen commandery, but did not overcome him. He advanced to attack the Grand Warden of Xiangcheng, Cui Kuang, at Fanchang, and murdered him.

(JS005: Shi Le captured Xiangcheng and the Grand Warden, Cui Kuang was murdered. Thereupon he arrived at Wan. Wang Jun dispatched the Xianbei Wen Yang to lead cavalry and save it. Le withdrew. Jun again dispatched the detached general Wang Shenshi to chastise Le at Wenshi Ford, and greatly routed him.)

Le wanted to press on to Nanyang. Wang Ru, Hou Tuo, Yan Ni, and others heard about it, and dispatched a multitude of 10 000 to station at Xiangcheng to resist Le. Le struck them, fully took prisoner their multitudes, and advanced to station north of Wan. At that time, Huo Tuo occupied Wan, and Wang Ru occupied Rang. Ru feared an attack by Le on himself, and sent off precious treasures, chariots, and horses, to entertain the host, to join together as brothers. Le likewise tolerated his stubbornness and allowed it. Ru and Hou Tuo were not at peace, and Ru advised Le, saying:

Hou Tuo, although referred to as a subject to Han, is in truth a traitor to Han. Ru is often afraid he will come to attack. Older Brother should prepare against him.

Le had a long-standing resentment for Tuo's changeability, but shied away from Ru's lips and teeth, and for that reason did not attack him. When he heard Ru's words, he was very pleased, and thereupon at night ordered the Three Armies to eat at their mattresses and attend on the instructions, and harness at cock-crow. Those who set out late were beheaded. At dawn he pressed down on the gates of Wan and attacked it. After twelve days he overcame them. Yan Ni led a multitude to save Tuo, but when he arrived it was to catch up, and he then surrendered to Le. Le beheaded Tuo, imprisoned Ni and sent him off to Pingyang, and fully combined their multitudes. His army's might was extensive and thriving.

Le went south to rob Xiangyang, he attacked and captured more than thirty ramparts and fortifications west of the Jiang. He kept behind Diao Ying to defend Xiangyang, and personally led 30 000 of the finest cavalry to turn back to attack Wang Ru, but shied away from Ru's vigorousness, and thereupon pressed on to Xiangcheng. Ru understood it, and dispatched his younger brother Li to lead 25 000 cavalry, falsely telling he was rewarding the army, but in truth wishing to assault Le. Le confronted, struck, and wiped him out, and then stationed west of the Jiang.

11th Month [8 December – 5 January], Emperor Huai loathed that the King of Donghai, Yue, monopolized authority, and therefore decreed to the Inspector of Qing province, Gou Xi, saying:

We, due to lacking virtue, and military chariots again and again rising up, above dread the bother to the ancestral temple, below sympathise with the constraints of the myriad masses, and must rely on the regions' peaks to be the state's fences and buttresses.

His Excellency's power is an awesome blazon, putting on display and beheading [Gongshi] Fan and [Ji] Sang, running off and bringing down [?] Qiao and [Lü] Lang. The followers of Wei Zhi then were executed and eliminated. How is it not exalted discernment and clarity in judgement? We made use of the consignments' completeness, and additionally, Wang Mi and Shi Le being worries for the altars of soil and grain, and for that reason there was a decree consigning control of six provinces, yet Your Excellency modestly divided up smaller nodes. Examining the disobedience to the great instructions, it is not what is spoken of as sharing worries with the state.

Now [We] again dispatch a decree to readily grant a proclamation to the six provinces, to unite together in a great undertaking, and cut away and eliminate the state's difficulties. [We] have declared Our thoughts on it.

Xi then circulated a proclamation to the various [Generals who] Conquers and Garrisons, the provinces and commanderies, saying:

Heaven's steps are difficult and dangerous, disasters and hardships flow full. Liu Yuanhai makes rebellion in Fenyin, Shi Shilong causes chaos in the Three Wei. They bit-by-bit eat the imperial domain, and overthrow and destroy the Ye capital. They join together ramparts near the suburbs, and keep shaking Yan and Yu. They have murdered three Inspectors and killed two Chief-Controllers; the commandery wardens, officials and chiefs buried and lost number several tens. The hundred families drift away, liver and brain stain the earth.

Xi, though trifling and negligible, shoulders the weight of the state, and thus is slowing the pace to the corners of the sea, guiding the drumsticks for the group of guards. The Mediocre One received the central decree, and was entrusted with East of the Passes, to supervise and control the various armies, and reverently accept the decreed instructions.

On the agreed upon date, the present month's second day, [I] undertook to go west and cross to Liyang, and on that day obtained the Grand Warden of Xingyang, Ding Ni's plain report on affairs. Li Yun, Chen Wu, and others aided Huai, and the various armies greatly fought with the Jie. All were routed and scattered. Huai city had already fallen when the Grand Warden of Henei, Pei Zheng, was seized by the traitors.

The overnight guards at the watchtower are depleted and the Son of Heaven suffers difficulty. The perils of the Ancestral Temple are very much those of a pile of eggs. At the day of accepting the tidings, [I] anxiously sighed with bathed breath.

Xi considers it to be that previous kings selected the foundations and clarified virtue, making using of dress and insignia, and by these means fenced and strengthened the royal house, and there was nothing that would lead to the city's ruination. Thus when the boats and oars were not strong, Huan of Qi called Chu to account. When King Xiang pressured the Di, Wen of Jin came to chastise.

In all cases to shelter and support the august house, to spread strength to the foundational court, even though trapped in the heat of boiling water, is the great righteousness which is sweet. In addition the shepherds of the various regions all receive glory and favour, their righteousness shared to end of their strength, and so repaying the state's kindness. Xi, though not martial, is at the head of initiating military action, feed the horses and wrap up provisions, to anticipate the regions quelling. All of us sharing the same oath ought to share in hurrying to the rescue. To display and set up a name for steadfastness lies in this act.

Shi Le obtained the circulated proclamation, and therefore in great anger said:

[I] swear to not live together with these thieves between Heaven and Earth.

(From “Le obtained” to here is taken from the “long” reconstruction of the SLGCQ. I couldn't figure out what the original source is.)

12th Month [6 January – 4 February], Cao Ni routed Langye and went north to attack the lands of Qi. Gou Chun shut the city to defend himself. Ni's multitudes shifted perfectly [?], with continuous encampments for several tens of li. Gou Xi turned back, climbed the walls, and looked at them, he had a fearful face. He and Ni fought continuous battles, every time he routed him.

(Presumably the city is Linzai, capital of Qing province?)

(Li Xiong)

5th Year of Yanping, at the time Li Xiong's Grand Steward Li Guo garrisoned Baxi. A man from his retinue, Wen Shi of Tianshui, killed Gao, and used Baxi to surrender to Luo Shang.

Earlier, Qiao Deng had gone to the [General who] Garrisons the South, Liu Hong, to request troops. Deng, courtesy name Shenming, was a native of Xichongguo in Baxi. He was Qiao Zhou's grandson. At the time Central Plains were in chaos, he was posted with Hong for three years, but was unable to obtain troops. Hong petitioned for Deng to be General who Spreads Fervour and Interior Clerk of Zitong, to righteously levy the population of the Three Ba, Shu, and Han as troops, to overcome and take the submission of the province's commanderies. He levied the drifting soldiers of Ba and Shu, and obtained 2 000 people.

The General who Pacifies the West, Luo Shang, had withdrawn to dwell in Ba commandery. Deng accompanied Shang to force the Yi army to chastise Xiong, but did not get it. He therefore left to attack Dangqu, beheaded Tuo, and ate his liver. The thieves of Baxi were routed, and he again went to Shang to seek an army.

Shang's advisers and assistants often considered it surely to be without profit. Deng was resentful and livid, and several times confronted and smashed them. He also increasingly made demands to Shang. Shang only looked down on him and that was all. It happened that Luo Yang killed Xiong's Grand Commandant, Li Li, and raised up Zitong to come and surrender. Deng advanced straight to Fucheng. Xiong himself attacked Deng, but was routed by Deng.

(The death of Li Li took place in 309, the previous year.)

Xiong's General who Pacifies the Robbers, Li Feng, was at Jinshou. Liang# province at first, since it was routed by Xiong, was not defended. However Qiao Deng at Fu, the Army Advisor who Pacifies the West, Xiang Fen, stationed at Yifu in Anhan, and the General who Smashes Charges, Zhang Luo, stationed at Pingwu, pressured Xiong.

Zhang Luo, advanced to occupy Heshui in Jianwei. In Ba and Shu they made a verse which said:

Qiao Deng governs Fucheng, Wen Shi is in Baxi, Zhang Luo defends Heshui. How will the Ba Di go forward?

The levied people were bringing down Xiong's leaders, and the thieves hence were on the verge of difficulties.

Xiong's general Zhang Bao's younger brother Quan was in Hong Qi's midst. Qiong dispatched Bao as a rebel as a deceit, promising to use him as replacement for Li Li. Bao was habitually nefarious and brave. He first killed a person, and afterwards ran to Zitong, and secretly connected with his heart and belly. It happened that Luo Shang dispatched messengers to placate and acknowledge Qi. Qi and outers set out to send off his messenger. Bao closed the city gates from behind them. Qi and others ran to Baxi. Xiong got Zitong, and designated Bao as Grand Commandant. Xiong himself attacked Xiang Fen, and Fen fled.

Luo Shang's original advisers and assistants resented Qiao Deng's self-important disrespect, and did not provide his army with food. Xiong knew Deng lacked food, and dispatched Xiang# to go and attack him. The troops were destitute and the soldiers hungry, but had pledged to die and did not withdraw. The multitudes likewise starved to death but there were none who left. Deng had earlier brought along Xiang#'s son Shou, wishing to use him to persuade Xiang#. As he was being attacked relentlessly, and rescue and assistance did not arrive, he returned Shou to Xiang#.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], Luo Shang passed away in Ba commandery. Shang, courtesy name Jingzhi, also named Zhong, courtesy name Jingzhen, was a native of Xiangyang. He was successively Assistant Gentleman to the Masters of Writing, Grand Warden of Wuling and Runan. He moved to [Inspector] of Liang# province, and presided over the province.

A written decree appointed the Grand Warden of Changsha, Pi Su, as Inspector of Yi province, concurrent Colonel of the Western Yi, and General who Spreads Fervour, to be in charge of the righteous levies and the Pacifies the West Army, and take on to advance and govern the Three Passes.

At the time Li Xiang# was relentlessly attacking Qiao Deng. Pi Su arrived at Badong, and directed the Pacifies the West generals Zhang Shun and Yang Xian to relieve Deng. Luo Shang's son Yu was livid and resentful. Increasingly Deng's food transports were not supplied. Su when he arrived in Fu, wished to put in order [those who] who were carrying out affairs. [Those] who were carrying affairs were deeply afraid.

Winter, 12th Month [6 January – 4 February], Su arrived at Dianjiang in Ba commandery. Surrendered people, Zhao Pan and Yan Lan of Tianshui, at night killed Su. Su, courtesy name Taihun, was a native of Xiapi.

The Chief Commandant of Jianping, Bao Zhong, killed Luo Yu and Zhao Pan. Ba commandery was in chaos, Zhang Shun and Yang Xian turned back and did not rescue Qiao Deng. The officials of the Three Offices sent up for the Army Overseer of Badong and General of the Best of the Army, Han Song of Nanyang, to be Inspector and Colonel, seated in Badong.

(Zhang Gui)

(JS: At Linsong Mountain in Zhangye a rock had the “Gold Horse” [ 金馬] characters. It was worn and destroyed, and more or less possible to understand, but the Zhang [張] character was distinct and clear.)

(TPYL quoted the SLGCQ: At Linsong Mountain in Zhangye there was a rock like the “Zhangye” [張掖] characters. The “ye” [掖] was gradually destroyed, [but] the Zhang [張] character was distinct and clear.)

There was also an inscription which said:

Begin to take on Under Heaven, the Western Region calm for ten thousand years.

Guzang also had a dark stone with white dots forming the Twenty-Eight Lunar Lodgings. Auspicious grain with one stalk having nine ears was grown at Guzang.

At the time Under Heaven was already in chaos, and those who were sent to there with instructions did not arrive. Zhang Gui dispatched envoys to present tribute, year after year he did not give it up. The Imperial Court praised him, and again and again passed down letters with the imperial seal to placate and acknowledge him.

4th Year of Yongjia, 11th Month [8 December – 5 January], a yellow dragon set out from the Linqiang He, it issued out from the water and ascended into the sky. Its body was more than ten zhang long.

[stiltonbasket]

In the soulmate AU, how is Lan Xichen affected when Nie Mingjue dies?

“Xichen. Please, nephew, you have to eat something.”

“I ate yesterday,” Lan Xichen says dully. “Forgive me, Shufu, but I do not believe I can stomach anything just now.”

Just before the Sunshot Campaign began, Lan Xichen had witnessed his brother’s mourning for his soulmate: a soulmate whom he never knew, and whose loss he recovered from soon enough when he fell in love with Young Master Wei. He also saw Wangji through the aftermath of Wei Wuxian’s passing, and found himself thanking the heavens that he cannot fall in love himself despite having a soulmate in love with him; and then Nie Mingjue died, and Lan Xichen realized for the first time in his life how little of a difference their mixed bond had made.

It was a curiosity among those cultivators who studied the mysteries of soulmate bonds: a mixed bond, platonic on Lan Xichen’s side and a lover’s bond on Nie Mingjue’s, eternally happy and harmonious despite its misalignment. Lan Xichen has always known that his bond with Mingjue was stronger than most; he could feel his anger and sorrows as well as his moments of joy, which meant that any strong feeling--no matter what it was--was reflected equally between them, until Nie Mingjue learned Lan Xichen’s heart as well as he knew his own. He understood Lan Xichen’s love for him, deep and steadfast like a quiet stream carving its way through the earth, and Lan Xichen knew Mingjue’s love in return: desperate, all-consuming, as tender as it was passionate, and Lan Xichen treasured it endlessly despite being unable to reciprocate it.

“You are my fated one, Mingjue-xiong,” he said one day, when he was around sixteen. “Even though I’m not in love with you.”

“I know,” his A-Jue laughed, and the deep, warm ring of his voice was like the sun. “You silly melon, Lan Huan. I’ve always known.”

By the time he was twenty, it felt as if there was nothing of him that was not also Nie Mingjue--nothing Mingjue-xiong did not know, no grief or delight that they did not share, for Mingjue often kissed the ends of Lan Xichen’s ribbon, though he never kissed his lips.

But all anyone else ever saw was that Mingjue’s love was unrequited, because platonic bonds most often connect family and friends, and perhaps that is why the world expects him to live on now that his bi sheng zhiji is gone.

Why is he still breathing, when he felt his soulmate die? Surely, when it comes, the moment of his own death will not be half so torturous.

“Lan Huan,” he hears his uncle beg, before a bowl of something warm and savory is tilted to his lips. “Please, nephew. Your jindan can’t help you now. Drink the soup.”

Obediently, he opens his mouth and swallows a few mouthfuls before pushing the bowl away. “That is meat,” he rasps. “I am not so weak that you must--”

“Yes, and that child he left you is half a Nie,” his uncle snaps, forcing a spoon into his hand. “How do you expect the little one to grow strong upon our food when you are half in the grave already? Drink it for your son’s sake, if no one else’s!”

He finishes the soup, sip by sip, and then Shufu brings him tea and combs his hair for the first time in over a week. “A bath tomorrow, I think,” Lan Qiren grumbles. “And some more food. The next day, you must take a walk and see the healers again.”

__

Nie Mingjue died in the autumn, when the leaves were just beginning to turn orange and drop off their branches; and his son arrives exactly six months later, drowning out the soft winds of spring with his wails and deafening his poor tang-ge, who pays him a visit in Lan Wangji’s arms before bursting into tears himself.

Lan Jingyi is thoroughly Lan in his looks, even during those first few weeks he spends latched to Lan Xichen’s side, sleeping soundly to recover from the ordeal of being born. He has Lan Xichen’s smooth hair, as well as his noble brow and cheekbones, and Lan Qiren swears that his tiny chin is a perfect replica of Qingheng-jun’s.

But A-Yi’s eyes are Nie MIngjue’s, proof that Lan Huan’s Mingjue-xiong lived and breathed and loved--and when Lan Xichen first sees his baby, he bows his head and weeps with joy instead of crying from grief.

[cheri-carnival]

the ice-cream parlour ✧ marius von hagen

an explosion of flavour.

[ private messages ]

✧ absurd sin / 妄罪

✧ first sign / 初露

[ comics ]

a pei ge / 啊呸咯 

✧ names

-

by beng luo / 伻珞

✧ advice

✧ goose

✧ fierce

✧ awake

✧ mistaken identity

✧ a childish duo

✧ dream

✧ fabulous feast

✧ have some ice-cream

✧ invitation

✧ throwing snowballs

-

by _dellar34

✧ little marius

-

by fen fang tang / 芬芳潭

✧ wizard marius

✧ who can resist?

✧ wink

-

by jun le yan / 君楽研

✧ old maid

✧ kiss

✧ dealing with the paparazzi

✧ sketches

✧ moments with marius

✧ affection

✧ childhood friends

✧ the von hagens

✧ let’s escape

✧ secrets of the tomb

✧ giann von hagen

✧ austin von hagen

✧ revisiting youth

✧ messy?

✧ jealous kitty

✧ young master marius

✧ drunk marius

✧ dance

✧ an uncontrollable human reaction

✧ the young master

✧ they probably look alike

✧ their relationship

-

by koeda / こえだ

✧ marius’ traits

✧ warm

✧ returning home with marius

-

by kong wan wan / 空挽挽 

✧ summer breeze event

-

by lu lu ning zi / 鹿鹿柠子

✧ mascot marius playing coy

✧ balloon selfie

✧ wanting praise

✧ little marius

✧ king listens to missy

✧ don’t bite your tail

✧ taking care of two cats

-

by ni ni / 霓霓

✧ ceo von hagen

-

by qiu tian de ai se / 秋天的哀色

✧ the claw machine

✧ absurd sin

✧ highschool romance

-

by qq liang hang lei / qq两行泪

✧ when mc pretends not to see him

✧ onesies

✧ resemblance

✧ injured

✧ summer festival

✧ kitty marius

✧ morning

✧ scalded

✧ 🍁

✧ pinch

✧ trip

✧ working

✧ get well soon

-

by suan rong zheng hai luo / 蒜蓉蒸海螺 

✧ advice

-

by tacub

✧ for her

-

by yan shan / 烟山

✧ itch

✧ caught a greedy cat

-

by ye yu sheng zhen de hao fan / 夜雨声真的好烦

✧ when marius is angry

✧ high offense, low defence

✧ good boy act 

-

by yi bai / 亦白

✧ heavy

✧ photographs

✧ give missy a kiss

✧ interrogation

✧ teary-eyed

✧ an awkward situation

-

by yi tuan lin hu / 一团凛狐

✧ oversized shirt

✧ chin rubs

-

by z zhi yao shui jiao ke yi ma / z只想睡觉可以吗

✧ little raincoat marius