#Yin Hu Fu

[lurkinginnernarrator]

Wei Wuxian dead for thirteen or sixteen years .... Soul can't be summoned... What if the stygian tiger amulet wasn't the only reason he lost control? What if... Mount Tonglu had opened? And what if the reason Wei Wuxian's spirit couldn't be contacted was because he was carried by the flood of resentful creatures to mount Tonglu, all this to say, ghost king!WWX.

[wangxianficrecs]

Wei Wuxian's Truth

by SwayingKelp (acandia89)

G, 5k, Wangxian

Summary: The cultivation world is in conflict as the Yin Hu Fu has appeared once again. Only one man had been able to destroy such object. But this man has never answer to any Inquiry. The Lan team play and call Wei Wuxian's soul. Secrets are revealed.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

my favourite part of the mxtx story is the bathos-pathos ending. you think everyone is assembled for an epic showdown, but it turns out to be flashmob group therapy, toxic amounts of pda, and some kind of zombie being used like the steel chair in a wrestling match. (i havn't read tgcf yet dont @ me)

this is 100% a feature not a bug btw. watching the mdzs cartoon really made me realise how much the emotional core drives the story. in the book showdown, JGY has no intention to fight and is just trying to dig up mum before he ditches town with his goon/situationship. WWX does jack shit except play a little flute and cuddle LWJ (and this is really significant to his character arc as he no longer has to shoulder all the burden alone.) Jiang Cheng is crying. Jin Ling is crying. #1 jade of lan is crying. every so often theres a knock at the door and another rando comes inside to cry too.

it's so funny to see the cartoon showrunners go off in a completely different direction; "wait so JGY just runs off? without a fight? y'know he still has that yin hu fu macguffin right? why doesn't he uses it? while we're here why dont we take the supporting cast off the bench and actually have them DO stuff? look we have an extra 70k yen thanks to all the cornetto sponsorships lets spurge on that cg."

[guangshi-091305]

For the danmei fanfic nightclub: XiXian angst possibly prisoner of war canon divergence.

How dare you make me inspired to write ten minutes after waking up? Suffer now!

Cw/Tw: warnings, heavy angst, psychological torture, isolation, self-loathing, suicidal thoughts, near-death experience. Hopeful ending because I am not entirely a monster!

Word Count: 3.2K

“The Lan Clan’s losses can never be compensated, even in a hundred years which is why the Jiang Clan has come up with something. We only hope this formal apology serves to restore the relationship between YunmengJiang and GusuLan. We also wish for Hanguang-jun to have a smooth transition and a better life in his next reincarnation.” Wei Wuxian would joke about how he was proud that Jiang Cheng managed to stay civil and formal at the same time and for such a long time-

“What is it that you’re offering?” Trust Lan Qiren to never waste time with skippable formalities.

“Wei Wuxian, Hanguang-jun’s murderer as a prisoner of war. This will be the last time we will do anything related to Wei Wuxian again. He is under your care now and you may feel fit to do whatever,” he spat the last word towards Wei Wuxian.

-if only he weren’t being sent to his slaughter amidst the internal cheering of the cultivation world.

“We accept, but instead of a prisoner to be tortured, I would like to take Wei Wuxian as my lawful spouse. I would love to live a long life with him. There is no resentment in Cloud Recesses to cloud his mind after all,” Lan Xichen spoke evenly but even from a distance Wei Wuxian could see the gleam of hatred in his eyes. Oh yes, he understood what the Lan Clan Leader was doing. Torture and killing him wouldn’t last as long as a marriage and captivity in the clan would. He would be proud of Lan Xichen for finally showing his true emotions if he wasn’t in danger.

“Lan-zongzhu is most merciful.” He bowed, trying not to clench his fists. There was nothing more he could do. He was Lan Xichen’s to do with as he wished and from the look in his future husband’s eyes, Wei Wuxian would suffer for years. But that’s alright. It’s what he deserves and worse. For being the reason Lan Wangji died. For telling him he was going to destroy the Yin Hu Fu and the mechanics behind it and for letting his guard down around a man so determined to stick around him.

------------------------------------------------------------

He finished his three bows without fanfare the next day and moved into the Hanshi a few hours later. With everyone he cared for dead and everything important to him having been burned in Lotus Pier years ago, it didn’t take long. He only had to bring himself.

“You’ll sleep on the floor near the brazier,” Lan Xichen informed him and Wei Wuxian gulped before offering a small bow. “The Clan leader needs to look like the paragon of the Clan as such, I must take care of myself before anyone else. I am sure you understand how politics and gossip work, Yiling Laozu.”

He didn’t, and on the off chance he did, he didn’t care about what people thought anyway but he nodded to show he understood.

“Well, I hope you see him in your dreams tonight because I am sure he would’ve loved to see you in his.” It was said lightly but Wei Wuxian understood it for the curse it was. Not even half a day had passed since his sham of a marriage and his husband had already cursed him to nightmares.

“Have a pleasant rest, Lan-zongzhu,” he responded, settling his tired body near the brazier.

The next few weeks were a blur of doing nothing, getting sneered at by everyone and thinking of Lan Wangji. It always got worse if he would look in a direction and remember what Lan Wangji had done in that area years ago. He could picture him stomping around in that elegant manner of his in his mind and it never got easier, knowing he was never coming back.

Because he had learned to be a self-sacrificing fool from staying with him. Wei Wuxian would cuss him out if he wasn’t worried about how every one of his actions could affect his reincarnation. He probably thought too highly of his influence with fate but it was better to be careful.

The constant ache of feeling like something was missing, something was wrong, the nightmares and the bland GusuLan fare that was surprisingly not poisoned caused his health to decline steadily. He lost weight, his body ached constantly and his mind was in tatters, warring with immense guilt and self-hatred at all times of the day. So it wasn’t a surprise when the thin line between his guilt and lack of self-worth finally snapped. Frankly, he was surprised it took two months.

------------------------------------------------------------

“Excess emotion is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Xichen reminded, as he found his husband with tears streaming down his face again. He didn’t even seem aware he was crying but didn’t look surprised as he wiped his face free of the residue of his guilt.

“Why are you being so cruel to me? You won't let me die and now you don’t want me to feel,” he whispered listlessly, the rays of the setting sun making the harsh lines of his face more pronounced. He had known his husband wasn’t eating but surely a cultivator of his calibre could practice inedia for weeks, couldn’t he?

“Every Clan member has to abide by the rules and you are part of the main family now.” He pointed out.

“I didn’t take you to be so skilled at torture, Zewu-jun, but I was wrong. You’re so good at this, aren’t you? Ordering the kitchens to send me food Lan Zhan used to like better, not stopping anyone from whispering and jeering and taunting my dead family, letting everyone remind me how I failed at being a father before I could ever become one… before I could ever save my A-Yuan.” He choked on a sob and Lan Xichen was surprised. Yuan-er, dead? Who was telling him such lies? “I really despise you.”

“That’s alright. The last person in our clan you seemed to like was my brother and we all know how that went.” It was instinct, lashing out at a husband who never fought back because the guilt of having a hand in his brother’s death was too much for him. If he hadn’t whipped Wangji. If he hadn’t left him unsupervised. If he hadn’t underestimated the depth of his brother’s feelings for Wei Wuxian… It was no wonder Wangji overexerted himself and reached the Burial Mounds before the siege did.

The pain on Wei Wuxian’s face made him stumble. The guilt on his face had left its mark on his once-youthful face. His eyes were dull, and his smile, ever-present in his teenage, was twisted into a loathing grin. One directed at himself.

No. Lan Xichen won't sympathize with that man. Doing so was the cause of his brother’s downfall. He needed to hate him forever and needed to ensure Wei Wuxian got what he deserved and more.

“I didn’t come here to talk to you, I came here to tell you we’re having tea with the elders today. Make yourself presentable. Your Lan robes are there, wear them.” Lan Qiren had gotten Wei Wuxian an ill-fitting –more now than before because of all the weight he had lost— set of robes, plain white to signify that while he was married to the leader, he was nothing more than a prisoner. An unwanted.

Lan Xichen should hate him, he really should. It’d make things easier. So why then, did hearing Wei Wuxian’s heart-wrenchingly agonized sobs make him want to cry too?

------------------------------------------------------------

“You are a disgrace upon this clan and to every cultivator alive! How dare you look at me with such an accusatory expression?” Elder Zhou yelled, breaking half a dozen rules about composure. Lan Xichen looked at his husband and realized the elder was right. Wei Wuxian was glaring at him. Could it be that he realized who argued with him the most to make sure he punished his brother with the discipline whip?

“You’re only lucky Xichen wanted you alive. Your status as his legal spouse is the only thing keeping us from seeking justice! You don’t deserve to take a single breath of Gusu’s air with all the crimes you’ve committed!” Elder Wang spoke up too and was it him or the Elders had invited them to tea solely to take turns hurling accusations at Wei Wuxian. He had thought this was a formality, yet there seemed to be a reasoning behind every carefully worded barb. And it was working. Wei Wuxian’s clenched hands were shaking, his lower lip was bleeding from how hard he was biting it and there was an unmistakable wetness in his eyes.

“I think that’s quite enough.” He stood up, offering Wei Wuxian his hand. His husband quietly followed his lead. “Don’t forget in whose presence you are because you all have broken two dozen rules so far. Submit yourself for punishment tomorrow.” And then he was leading Wei Wuxian out and away from the Elders. Should’ve done this earlier, a voice in his mind grumbled and he was tempted to agree.

But the damage was done because as soon as they were in the Hanshi, Wei Wuxian fell to his knees, clutching his robes. His surprise made him speechless.

“Kill me, please. I can't do this anymore. Everywhere I look, I see him, I remember the lives I snuffed out and I feel the guilt. It's been getting worse, Zewu-jun, I can no longer take a single breath without feeling weighed down by self-loathing, deserved as it is.” His voice was hoarse from the tears, his form bony from starving himself, yet the grip on his robes was unyielding and spoke of someone who used to have so much power. And now he had been reduced to begging.

“It's killing me, I know that was the purpose but the soul-crushing agony I feel is unbearable. I am going insane and I don’t want to become a danger to the Clan. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I hurt another soul again. So please, please kill me. End this farce and free yourself. Shatter my soul too after so I can never reincarnate again. I don’t have a golden core so it’d be easy and I know I don’t deserve to ask this of you but please make it quick. I want to have one last moment without pain-“

“Wei Wuxian, calm yourself!” He fell to his knees and grabbed his husband’s hands. “Take a deep breath and explain what you mean.” Because he couldn’t have heard that right. Wei Wuxian was the strongest cultivator alive, how could he be that without a golden core?

“I would if it’d make a difference but… I can't, I can't breathe I can’t-“ Lan Xichen realized too late. Wei Wuxian looked dead, his outward appearance reflecting on his mind’s condition. He was right because Wei Wuxian was on the brink of insanity and begging him to kill him so his people stayed safe.

“He’s good, he’s one of the best people out there, Xiongzhang, so please help me bring him to Gusu.”

Ah. So this is what Wangji meant back then. This is why his brother wouldn’t budge in his defences of the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.

I see it, I see it now, Wangji. But am I too late?

His eyes were a dull, lifeless grey. They seemed to be seeing through him. Wei Wuxian was dying. And most of it was his fault. He did this, he tortured the man his brother cared so deeply for with every member of the Clan. He should’ve felt happy, proud of breaking the feared Yiling Laozu. So why then, did the sight of Wei Wuxian almost dead make him feel like scum. Like a murderer. Like someone who killed an innocent.

Because that’s what his husband was. An Innocent. The pieces clicked in his mind. The rumours of Jiang Wanyin losing his core but coming back even stronger. The Demonic Cultivation. The pushing people away. The desire to stay away from Wangji yet be helpless to resist his light. The lack of Yin Hu Fu. The desire to keep one more person safe from his hands if that was the last thing he did.

Wei Wuxian had been innocent and Lan Xichen had committed a heinous, unforgivable crime.

“A-Ying, husband, I am here. I am here.” His hands were clutching at bony shoulders, pulling the man into his arms for a tight embrace. He held him as he shook, body wracked with sobs and unintelligible sounds of grief and guilt and he held him as his own eyes grew misty. He realized how every horrible thing that had happened to this poor, innocent man had his hand in it. He wasn’t any better than the things he was punishing Wei Wuxian for, was he? What was the purpose of being a Clan Leader, someone said to have infinite wisdom, both theoretical and real, if he was going to be blind in the face of his own guilt? He was a disgrace, he had tortured a man whose only crime was caring for others, and he had let others take part in his depraved schemes.

He was a monster.

“I am sorry, I am so sorry, please stay with me. Stay with me!” He couldn’t disguise the desperation in his voice as Wei Wuxian went slack against him. Would he be able to live with himself if Wei Wuxian died? Would he ever be able to face his brother with his hands tainted in his most cherished person’s blood? “A-Ying, A-Ying I am so sorry please don’t leave me, please! I’ll do anything you ask for, give you anything, please don’t go too, please please-“

He heard shouts in the background, he heard the word Qi Deviation being muttered and felt the oppressive feeling of untamed panic as the door to the Hanshi was kicked open. Yet his arms never let go of his husband, even when the world went dark.

------------------------------------------------------------

He sat up with a harsh breath, wondering where he was. Looking around didn’t tell him anything. He tried to remember what happened, where he was… It was then he noticed a weight on his left hand and turned to look at what had him in such a death grip.

Wei Wuxian slouched on the floor, seemingly asleep. But the grip on his hand was unyielding. It was also warm. Warm with life. Warm with proof that his husband was alive and that he had time to make amends and be a better person for him and Wangji.

“A-Ying,” he whispered, and Wei Wuxian sat up with a grumble, eyes red with interrupted sleep.

“Oh… I should call the healers since you’re awake,” he muttered and moved to get up. Xichen wasn’t having it, so he pulled Wei Wuxian towards him, making him stumble and fall onto him gracelessly.

“Don’t go yet, stay with me, A-Ying,” he whispered in his hair as his arms tightened around his husband. His husband. Wei Wuxian was his husband. How had he never realized how significant that fact was?

“I- alright?” And then he climbed into the bed and wrapped his arms around Xichen, offering him comfort he didn’t know he needed so badly.

“You’re alright. I didn't lose you…” He shuddered at the thought and felt Wei Wuxian look up at him. “You’re here…”

“I am.” Lying was forbidden in the Cloud Recesses after all. “Where am I?” He still felt disoriented, as if he wasn’t quite feeling or seeing everything around him yet. His head hurt and it made him realize he couldn’t feel his spiritual energy.

“I had to seal your spiritual energy so it wouldn’t harm your meridians. You were qi deviating and I didn’t know what to do. Turns out it was a good idea because Xiansheng told me I just saved your life. It’s a little fascinating, he said he had never thought of stopping a qi deviation fit before it killed or permanently rendered someone from cultivating by sealing the energy and forcing the disruption to contain itself and-“ He tuned out the rambling in favour of staring at his husband’s face. For the first time in years, he saw the passionate interest reminiscent of a scholar again.

The war had taken so much from them all. He had forgotten it had been taken from Wei Wuxian too. His core, his family, his standing in the world, the reputation of his deceased parents. It had taken the spark, the warmth that had made Wei Wuxian Wei Wuxian and none of them had realized.

Seeing him now, so alive and only because he had gotten over his pain and guilt to save Xichen’s life. Watching him gesturing minutely with his hands as if he could draw him a picture of every genius thought that crossed his mind to explain his thoughts better, Lan Xichen realized he was alright. Wei Wuxian was alive and so was he. Their relationship had been riddled with pain and guilt, doomed from the beginning. But maybe, just maybe, they could make something beautiful out of it.

Beautiful… It was the same word he could use to describe Wei Wuxian now, with his eyes full of life and his voice going hoarse from the constant rambling. His cheeks were flushed and he was panting as he stopped his tirade and looked at him with a look full of so much indignance he giggled.

“You’re not even pretending to listen to me!” He wailed dramatically, a triumphant smile touching his lips as Lan Xichen laughed again. So this was Wei Wuxian, the real Wei Wuxian. Someone who was so smart, not just in mind but in action. Someone who was kind and selfless. Someone who found joy in making others happy regardless of who they were and what wrongs they had committed in life.

Lan Xichen didn’t blame his brother anymore. He could see it. Feel the first dregs of infatuation coursing through his veins as Wei Wuxian pouted dramatically at him. Feel a stirring in his heart that could only be the foundation of love as he tightened his hold on his husband. Feel the warmth of a blush as it spread on Wei Wuxian’s cheeks and his ears as he leaned forward to kiss his forehead, whining about how unfair he was being, taking away his thoughts just like that.

“A-Ying,” he sighed and Wei Wuxian’s flush darkened as he looked away from him, a shy smile touching his lips as he hugged him back harder with utmost nonchalance.

“A-Huan…” It was Xichen’s turn to freeze, his face beginning to burn and Wei Wuxian cackled inelegantly in his embrace.

They would be alright. There was a mountain of hurt between them, unanswered questions, withheld knowledge, the grief of losing Wangji, and the lingering effects of war, too. But for once, Xichen was convinced, his optimism not unfounded.

They would be alright and they would be happy. It would take time but he was sure of it, surer than he had ever been of anything.

He smiled down at his husband and pulled him to rest against him, a hand moving to stroke his hair. Wei Wuxian sighed softly and began the process of lecturing him about being reckless and following in his example of idiocy. And as those lips moved against his neck, reprimands falling from them against his skin, he wondered what it’d feel like to kiss them.

[incarnadinedreams]

Hot Take Time #2309209 (edit: actually this isn't a hot take it's lukewarm at best. it's a room temperature take) but I really don't understand the argument "mo dao and gui dao are different and therefore everything WWX does is completely fine!"

Like, yes, it's a difference that plays into the public discourse vs. real truth themes of the novel to a degree, and I of course absolutely appreciate all the explanations and meta around the nuances and differences. But like. What he actually does with it is... still not good whether it's mo dao or gui dao? And there are many very significant reasons that gui dao is still not great? (Which I won't get into here because there are other people far more qualified with cultural/genre knowledge who have written about it way better than I ever could anyway)

Like y'know. The several hundred people he tortured to death, the thousands of desecrated graves, the mini-harem of pet zombie girls he kept after the war for purely entertainment purposes...? Like, those behaviors aren't inherent to the method (well, except the method sort of uniquely facilitating the keeping of pet ghosts), but they're not... good...? (Note: 'morally good' is completely different than 'fun & sexy, having a great time torture-bonding with shidi, etc'.)

I just cannot agree that keeping a little harem of pet ghost girls nor anything that happened with the Wens is being "gentle with the dead, empathetic and respectful". Even WWX thinks his past self was kinda cringe with it and went way too far!

I do think there's meant to be a significant amount of ambiguity about what elements of his downward spiral are caused by the corrosive nature of his method vs. the trauma of the Burial Mounds and his own, internal, homebrewed mental crisis. The alcoholism, rapidly shifting moods, anger and inability to control his temper, before and after the war. How much of it is Wei Wuxian and how much of it is the impact of the resentful energy he's using, and the use/proximity of the Yin Hu Fu?

I do think there's a reason why there's just as much brutality carried out by characters using orthodox cultivation methods. But in the end, his behavior was a problem, and the novel hints that the methods were impacting his mental state, and it was overlooked because of his usefulness to the war effort, but it did significantly damage his credibility leading up to the parts where he is in the right, which is also part of the point of the story. And you know. The subject of Jiang Cheng's whole 'the flower that blooms alone' monologue in the cave.

Anyway. 'He's using gui dao not mo dao and there's a difference' is super not the same thing as 'Wei Wuxian is morally justified in every action'?

Anyway this book is a lot more fun to me when you approach it from 'look what absolutely insane things these boys will do when they go absolutely feral for each other, it's so cool' with a side of 'look how fucked up he is now, that's hot' and not, like, trying to somehow figure out how to make pet ghost girls into a moral ideal.

So much of the story, for me, is about what desperate, wild lengths a person will go to for survival and revenge when pushed, and then what do you do after? When the danger is past and the revenge is done, what then? How do you come back from that?

[lttawnymadison]

Danmei most highly rated/loved

This list is based on my poll of people's favorite danmei novels. They're also the ones I've heard about multiple times. Many are licensed for English, and more are being licensed all the time!

MXTX – Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu) 

MXTX – The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi)  

MXTX – The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong) 

Meatbun – The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun)

Meatbun - Remnants of Filth (Yu Wu)

Meatbun - Case File Compendium (Bing an Ben)

Meng Xishi - Thousand Autumns (Qian Qiu) 

Meng Xishi – Peerless (Wu Shuang) 

Priest - Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang)  

Priest – Lord Seventh (Qi Ye)

Priest - Faraway Wanderers (Tian Ya Ke), sequel to Lord Seventh

Priest – Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire 

Priest - Guardian (Zhen Hun) 

Shisi - Little Mushroom (Xiao Mogu) 

Feng Yu Nie - Mistakenly Saving the Villain 

FTYX - Dinghai Fusheng Records

FTYX - Legend of Exorcism (Tianbao Fuyao Lu) (loose sequel to DFR)

FTYX - To Rule in a Turbulent World (Luan Shi Wei Wang)  

Tang Jiu Qing - Qiang Jin Jiu 

Tang Jiu Qing - Nan Chan 

Cang Wu Bin Bai - Golden Terrace (Cang Wu Bin Bai) 

Cang Wu Bin Bai - Chun Feng Du Jian 

Qing Se Yu Yi - Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know  

Man Man He Qi Duo - Those Years In Quest Of Honour Mine 

Lu Ye Qian He - The Wife is First (Qi Wei Shang) 

Yi Yi Yi Yi - How to Survive As a Villain (Chuanyue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ruhe Huoming)  

Zhìchǔ - Fan Service Paradox (Ying Ye Bei Lun)  

Mu Su Li - Global Examination (Quanqiu Gaokao)  

Wei Feng Ji Xu - Mist (Bowu) 

Xue Shan Fei Hu - The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish 

Wu Zhe - Run Wild (Sa Ye) 

bafflinghaze - Dao Of The Salted Fish (Salted Fish Cultivator) 

Lin Qian - The Fallen Merman 

Feng Liu Shu Dai - Quickly wear the face of the devil 

Yin Ya - The Legendary Master’s Wife  

Wú Yì - The Killer of Killers (Sha Qing) 

Bing Kuai’er/ICE (冰块儿) - After Dawn/Dawning 黎明之后 

Jiang Weiji - How to Feed an Abyss! 

Lei Xu - The Grave Robbers' Chronicles

[reinaka42]

Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) Masterpost

Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) is a Vocal synth (Vocaloid and SynthV) music project. It consists of songs themed around different figures throughout Chinese history. The project is a collaboration between different artists and creatives, with music and videos featuring prominent traditional Chinese elements. The project's title translates to "The Records of Magnificence of the Wangchuan" - In Chinese mythology, "Wangchuan" (or River of Forgetting) is a river in the Underworld that can rid one of their past life's memories, similar to the river Lethe.

A mobile game adaptation has also been developed by NetEast. Unfortunately, I haven't played it so I can't give much insight on it. However, I assume that its premise is similar to that of the idea behind the project as a whole: all these historical figures meeting each other in the Underworld after they died. Maybe.

You can find all the songs on Bilibili. The official Weibo can be found here. The game's website, which includes all characters appearing so far in the game, can be found here, and its Weibo can be found here.

(If you prefer YouTube, I've also put together a handy playlist. Please know that most of these videos are reposts though, so please watch the original Bilibili MVs if you can!)

This blog is where I will be posting everything I feel like I need to say about the songs in this project. A lot of it is lifted from my Twitter account but will be in much more detail. Note that I probably won't touch collab songs, or songs that don't focus solely on the project's own characters.

Disclaimer: I do not speak Chinese, nor am I an expert on Chinese history. Therefore, I cannot reliably translate the lyrics to these songs, nor my words should be taken as gospel. I am merely a nerd gushing about my hyperfixation.

Playlist

多情岸 【Duo Qing An】 ➼ B link

洛阳怀 【Luo Yang Huai】 ➼ B link

易水诀 【Yi Shui Jue】 ➼ B link

山河令 【Shan He Ling】 ➼ B link

簪花人间 【Zhan Hua Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

栖凰 【Qi Huang】 ➼ B link

心上秋 【Xin Shang Qiu】 ➼ B link

祖龙吟 【Zu Long Yin】 ➼ B link

如见青山 【Ru Jian Qing Shan】 ➼ B link

竹林间 【Zhu Lin Jian】 ➼ B link

天下局 【Tian Xia Ju】 ➼ B link

青鸟衔风 【Qing Niao Xian Feng】 ➼ B link

木兰行 【Mu Lan Xing】 ➼ B link

好字唯之 【Hao Zi Wei Zhi】 ➼ B link

不可道 【Bu Ke Dao】 ➼ B link

水叙湖风 【Shui Xu Hu Feng】 (collab) ➼ B link

是非 【Shi Fei】 ➼ B link

风起甘露 【Feng Qi Gan Lu】 (collab) ➼ B link

谓剑 【Wei Jian】 ➼ B link

万象霜天 【Wan Xiang Shuang Tian】 (New Year event song) ➼ B link

千秋梦 【Qian Qiu Meng】 ➼ B link

易安难安 【Yi An Nan An】 ➼ B link

惊鹊 【Jing Que】 ➼ B link

高歌破阵 【Gao Ge Po Zhen】 (collab) ➼ B link

不赴 【Bu Fu】 ➼ B link

西行 【Xi Xing】 ➼ B link

大航海家 【Da Hang Hai Jia】 ➼ B link

牡丹乱 【Mu Dan Luan】 (collab) ➼ B link

倾国 【Qing Guo】 (collab) ➼ B link

相虎 【Xiang Hu】 ➼ B link

补天裂 【Bu Tian Lie】 ➼ B link

此期盈期 【Ci Qi Ying Qi】 (1st anniversary song) ➼ B link

破云来 【Po Yun Lai】 ➼ B link

归钓吟 【Gui Diao Yin】 ➼ B link

始见千秋 【Shi Jian Qian Qiu】 ➼ B link

临川浮梦 【Lin Chuan Fu Meng】 ➼ B link

将军行 【Jiang Jun Xing】 ➼ B link

妄语人间 【Wang Yu Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

数风流 【Shu Feng Liu】 (2nd anniversary song) ➼ B link

问剑春秋 【Wen Jian Chun Qiu】 ➼ B link

起战令 【Qi Zhan Ling】 ➼ B link

人间应又雪 【Ren Jian Ying You Xue】 ➼ B link

旷古回响 【Kuang Gu Hui Xiang】 ➼ B link

墨隐侠声 【Mo Yin Xia Sheng】 ➼ B link

桃源故人 【Tao Yuan Gu Ren】 (3rd anniversary song) ➼ B link

燕双归 【Yan Shuang Gui】 ➼ B link

拜云台 【Bai Yun Tai】 ➼ B link

思华年 【Si Hua Nian】 ➼ B link

承天 【Cheng Tian】 ➼ B link

*Note: The anniversary songs are probably for the game's anniversaries, as the project itself is more than 5 years old.

Albums

Vol 1: 溯洄 【Su Hui】 Includes character songs from Duo Qing An to Zhu Lin Jian. Features human vocals.

Vol 2: 踏浪 【Ta Lang】 Includes character songs from Tian Xia Ju to Yi An Nan An + Shui Xu Hu Feng.

Vol 3: 数风流 【Shu Feng Liu】 Includes character songs from Bu Fu to Yan Shuang Gui, and the two anniversary songs.

Visual character guide:

PRE-QIN | QIN | WESTERN CHU | HAN | THREE KINGDOMS | JIN | NORTH & SOUTHERN DYNASTIES | TANG | FIVE DYNASTIES & TEN KINGDOMS | SONG | YUAN | MING | QING | DREAM

[wangsejabin]

Chapter 126

Pan'er concluded that every time the palace held a palace banquet it always consisted of the same three things. Sitting around for hours, observing the titled women's greetings, and attending the feasts.

As for how it was for the men, Pan'er had no idea, but she hoped that the morning would be over soon, and that she would be able to relax after finishing her duties. In the afternoon she took the opportunity to go back to the palace to rest, and when she asked about it, she learnt that Emperor Jianping's side was not yet finished, so Pan'er went to sleep by herself.

After sleeping for less than an hour, woke up, hurriedly combed her hair and dressed to go to the Ning Shou Palace, and heard people say that the frontier sent a report of victory, His Majesty was naturally in high spirits. Ning Shou Palace was adjacent to the Chang Yin Pavilion, Chang Yin Pavilion is one of the largest theatres in the Forbidden City.

At the palace banquet, it was permitted to listen to the theatre, but naturally only the women who were members of prominent official family in the capital.

When Pan'er arrived, Empress Dowager Fu was already there, and around her, in addition to Empress Chen, there was also a circle of women. On the stage opera was being performed, most people were focused on watching, Pan'er quietly found a corner, and took a seat. Because the evening has no formal event, Pan'er did not wear auspicious clothes, but dressed in regular dress, coupled with the drums and gongs on the stage, her arrival did not cause sideways glances.

A palace maid came up to serve tea and asked if she wanted to move her seat, and Pan'er shook her head. After only managing a couple of sips from her cup of tea, on the side there were a few women gossiping. Now that the matter had spread in the palace, all because the report was reported at the palace banquet, probably everyone knew that His Majesty had been in a bad mood these days because of the situation at the border, someone went out of their way to time the report to inspire happiness and elicit rewards.

Before Pan'er left to take her nap, all the people above her had left their tables and that allowed her to leave as well. Whether one went back to rest, or to change clothes, this is the palace convention, only the empress dowager, the empress and highly ranked imperial ladies had this privilege, other women would still have to wait until the palace banquet had finished.

For example, Empress Dowager Fu had left earlier than Pan'er, actually not long after the start of the banquet she had left the table, then Empress Chen had left her table not long after the Empress Dowager Fu, and Pan'er had left a bit after them. So what these women had all heard, Pan'er had learned a little late.

It was previously reported from the border that the Jin people not only raided the town of Datong, but also raided Xuanfu, only because the casualties in Xuanfu is negligible, the capital had not been made aware of it. The two towns thought that the Jin people just raid their own towns, so they both set up heavy defence, fearing the Jin people returning.

Who knew that after they had failed in conquering the town, presumably they arranged scouts in the pass, and learnt that Datong's general in command Hu Bingcheng was seriously injured and unconscious, and then focused their troops secretly to raid Datong again.

Datong was missing their main general, but also because of the spies secretly sent to spread rumours to cause panic, even if they had tried to set up at strong defence, the Jin people would have beaten them. After all, they were injured and outnumbered against an overwhelming force. They thought that the other side of the army was divided into two ways, who knew that they were rushing to Datong, and were immediately taken by surprise.

At this moment of crisis, Yulin Pass received reinforcements. In fact, it was not proper reinforcements, but a low ranking officer patrolling the border with his cavalry, found that the movements of the Jin people was odd. This person turned out to be a bold man, with just a few people under his command, and no real rank.

After arriving, they found that the situation was not right, at the time it was just the practically defeated Datong garrison. To not call the person bold would be an understatement, he did not count how many people were under his command, had no fear of the opponent, and even dared to decieve them! They fanned out to seem like a greater force and attacked the Jin army from behind.

The raid came as a complete surprise to the Jin people, and it successfully managed to fool them into thinking it really were reinforcements arriving.They would have had insufficient troops, which is why they would schemed to pretend to attack Xuanfu and Datong at the same time. Feinting. Probably their own use of guile, but also afraid of the people of the Great Zhou using intrigue, deliberately trying to lure the enemy deeper, in fact, wanting to wrap them like dumplings.

After Datong, there is also Taiyuan, if Taiyuan had reinforcements, the leader of the Jin generals had the intention to retreat. The retreat of a lifetime, the morale is lacking, the team was immediately broken up, although the Jin people ran away more, but also beheaded a few hundred ranks, the Jin general was also captured alive. Afterwards, coincidentally they found out, the Jin general actually turned out to be a vassal king.

That is, the son of the emperor, similar to the meaning of a prince of the first rank. This credit is not small, enough to make up for the loss of Datong previously. That is not all, it was also clear that the court was very dissatisfied with the situation in Datong, so they specifically sent people into the capital to present the prisoners.

This occurred a few days after the General Hu Bingcheng was seriously wounded, presumably the imperial envoys sent to Datong at that point had not yet arrived.

That procession of prisoners would take about half a month to arrive in the capital, the report would naturally be the first to traverse the eight hundred miles to the capital. And the procession of war prisoners weren't just anybody, it was said that among them was the prince of the Jin people as well.

These were just the news shared over tea, and although Pan'er listened with interest, she didn't think much about it. Soon someone found her sitting in the corner and called out Your Highness, then Dowager Empress Fu's side heard it and called her over. After going over there was no small talk, that is, Empress Dowager Fu scolded her for sitting in the corner by herself, while Pan'er smiled sheepishly and said that she did not want to disturb the Empress Dowager and all the ladies watching the opera.

During this talk, the ladies sitting on the side were intentionally or unintentionally observing Empress Dowager Fu and Pan'er, and of course there was also Empress Chen, but most of the gazes were on Pan'er.

This was not the first public appearance of Su Guifei, said to be a divine beauty, which was perhaps an overstatement, but only beauty would not allow someone to remain favoured by His Majesty for so many years. From the time of the Eastern Palace, she was extremely favoured, and now she had been made a noble consort, and even the Empress was suppressed by her.

Of course, none of these words could be said loudly in public, and even the gazes were extremely subtle, so that it could not be detected. Regardless of the gossip, everyone knew they had to treat both the Empress and the noble consort with the same respect.

There was Dowager Empress Fu in the middle, surrounded by the matrons of the older generation, naturally, there was nothing for Empress Chen or Pan'er - both of a younger generation - to add to the conversation. Until suddenly a eunuch belonging to Jingren Palace suddenly came to give Pan'er the good news.

"Congratulations to Her Highness the noble consort, congratulations to Her Highness, your honourable brother has made great meritous service in Datong, it is said that he will soon be going to the capital to present the prisoners. The news has just been delivered to Jingren Palace, Sister Xiangpu and the others were not around, so the slave had the guts to come and report to your ladyship."

The person who came was none other than Xiao Tian Zi. It was that very same Xiao Tian Zi who had been suppressed by Xiao De Zi to the point where he had not been able to raise his head.

Pan'er also knew about this, so she subconsciously thought that someone had dug another hole for her, wanting her to make a fool of herself in front of the crowd, or else how was there some kind of maternal elder brother who had appeared out of nowhere.She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were glaring at Xiaotianzi, and in her heart she was deliberating on what kind of words to say in order to manage the scene in front of her. If it was someone deliberately trying to trap her, the other party would definitely have a backhanded plan, so how should she deal with it? "Your Highness is overjoyed, right? The imperial court's report of a victory has been reported to His Majesty, there can be no mistake." Hearing His Majesty, Pan'er sobered up. Since Xiao Tianzi mentioned His Majesty, he must have a meaning, and he wouldn't dare to knowingly help someone to harm her. That would be a death sentence. At this time, some people beside him whispered about the words Datong, offering prisoners, and wandering officers, and someone else took the initiative to explain to Dowager Empress Fu. So the whispering grew more and more, and Pan'er heard someone say, "That meritorious warrior seems to be surnamed Su, the same surname as Noble Consort." "This I did not pay attention to ......." Pan'er quickly said, " Such things are brought to such a place for what reason? There is no need to disturb the Empress Dowager and the ladies watching the play, still not quickly leaving?" Xiao Tianzi also realised that he had caused trouble, quickly kowtowed and left .

However, after that, there are not just a few people asking Pan'er a barrage of questions. There were people inquiring about the 'brother's age, whether he was married or not, but Pan'er remained vague, as if she didn't want to mention it for fear of stealing the limelight, but in fact, even she herself was confused.

It was not easy to deal with all of that, so Pan'er excused herself and temporarily left the main floor of the pavilion by going to the purification room.

Just as she walked out, she saw Xiao Tian Zi standing outside posing as an attendant eunuch. She led Xiang Pu all the way to the purification room, Xiao Tian Zi followed behind, into the purification room, Xiao Tian Zi explained the ins and outs. The truth of the matter was, after Pan'er had left, Fulu arrived to report the news, and Fulu had ordered him to go inform his mistress.

It was a coincidence that Xiao Dezi was not there at that time, and the errand was taken by Xiao Tianzi. If not, how could Xiao Tianzi who had been suppressed by Xiao Dezi ever have the chance to speak before her, after all. About the specifics he could not say clearly, and did not dare to ask more, only said it is Eunuch Fu come, announced Su family's Su Hai from Datong had rendered meritorious service and would be arriving in the capital.

But Pan'er pretty much understood what was going on, it seemed without her knowledge, Zong Cong sent Su Hai to the border.

For what?

Naturally, it was for her.

Maybe he had made the arrangements back in Yangzhou, but had never told her about it. Naturally happy, at the same time there was a kind of watery haze filling her eyes, Pan'er closed her eyes and took a deep breath before saying, "Alright, I know, you go back first."

Xiao Tianzi obeyed and left. Pan'er took Xiang Pu with her, a while later as she had to freshen up before she went out. Obviously Xiang Pu was also curious about what was going on with all of this, but she naturally didn't think through it as thoroughly as Pan'er, but she didn't dare to ask too many questions, after all, it wasn't the place.

After that it was about time for the theatre watching to end and for them to attend the feast. Pan'er could feel that many people intentionally or unintentionally were looking at her, it seemed that the scene that happened in the Changyin Pavilion before was known by many people.

What in the world were they thinking?

It turned out that Noble Consort Su actually had a maternal clan, wasn't it said that she was brought in from the thin horse trade?

In fact, regarding the rumours of Su Guifei origin as a thin horse, many people were doubtful, after all, the thin horse women had wrapped feet.

Whenever Su Guifei usually appeared in front of people, she was dressed in formal attire and long skirts, but one was still able to observe that she did not have wrapped feet.

But there was no doubt about who had sent Su Guifei into the palace. That had been the Chen family and clearly they had lifted a stone and smashed their own feet, this thing had been the subject of many jokes in the capital.

Jokes were jokes, but people also dared not take this Su Guifei lightly.

After all, this was the Chen family, but who let her quickly become an equal match with the Empress Chen, and even suppress her, there are few people who could have such ability and clearly she was not simple.

These thoughts of others, Pan'er does not know, she only knew that after the Changyin Pavilion gathering was held, dinner would held and after that came the moon feast.

At each of those events the ladies seemed to be more respectful to her, while Empress Chen and Hu Shufei looked at her with a complex gaze, and there was a hidden sense of trepidation in it.

Halfway through the Moon Viewing Banquet, Pan'er went back to Jingren Palace.

After almost two quarters of an hour, Zong Cong also came back. He drank wine, his body tinged with a faint smell of alcohol, but the Canaan incense was stronger than usual.

Pan'er felt that he seemed to be drunk, because whenever he was drunk or close to being drunk, his eyes and behaviour were extraordinarily different. For example, usually in front of the servants, he would rarely make too intimate gestures towards her, but once he drank too much, his small gestures were extraordinarily numerous, either wrapping his arms around her waist or holding her hand, touching her face or something like that, like a small child.

"You first drink the sobering soup, after you finish it go wash up, there's something we need to talk about later."

At this time, Pan'er had already washed up, wearing a begonia red bedclothes, the person was wrapped in Zong Cong's arms, she couldn't even push him away.

"You serve me to wash."

"I'm all washed up, how can I serve you to wash."

Seeing that the mistress and His Majesty were entangled, Fulu and Xiang Pu they both naturally hurriedly retreated, fearing that if they stayed for one more moment, their eyes wouldn't want to be there by then.

"Just have you serve."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, his gaze particularly passionate, and Pan'er naturally understand his meaning.

After kissing for awhile, the two went to the bathing room, and after a series of random tossing and turning, Pan'er was exhausted.

She went to lie down on the bed, she no longer having the desire to talk, and even with a belly full of unanswered questions, she was too lazy to ask at this moment, not wanting to move a finger, but he was full of interest, not at all sleepy.

"The matter of Su Hai coming back, did Fulu say anything to you?"

"Fulu did not personally tell me, he came to Jingren Palace ......" Pan'er repeated the course of events roughly.

Upon hearing this, Zong Cong snorted, "This old bastard, he can sell himself to curry favour."

[thisisallthehattersfault]

Today I am thinking about the Yin Hu Fu and The Ghost General and Wei Wuxian desperate self-reliance in trying to be both leader and protector and Wen Ning’s wasted potential.

A tally (Fu 符) was a two-piece seal used as proof of authority. It was kind of like an ID. On the more casual, day-to-day usage, you might get people given inexpensive little tallies made of wood or iron as like a security pass, proving they had the right to be in a certain area, such as the imperial gardens; these little pieces would all match up to the other part of the seal, which was held by whoever was in charge of making sure that everyone in a certain place was actually allowed to be there.

A Tiger Tally was different. Tiger Tallies moved armies. They were proof of rank among military officers. One half was held by the king, the other held by the general, and only when the two halves were joined could the army be raised and commanded. These things were rare; only three are known to still exist.

Wei Wuxian should not need to carry both halves of the seal. There should be someone else, there should be someone he can trust to carry the other half. Either a sect leader who can guide him or a subordinate he can rely on -- someone else, anyone else, should be able to hold the other half of the Yin Hu Fu.

But there’s no one. No one he trusts enough, no one who is strong enough. Even if Jiang Cheng or Lan Wangji had stood beside him during the war to the point that he might have been willing to hand part of the seal over, the resentful energy would have killed them, or at the very least done some real damage. They both have powerful Golden Cores; cultivating with resentful energy would be. Bad. And that’s assuming either of them would be willing to touch it in the first place.

But then, there is somebody. Somebody who would be perfect for this.

There’s Wen Ning. Wen Ning, who Wei Wuxian can trust. Wen Ning, who isn’t just strong enough to withstand the resentful energy, but would honestly be made stronger for it. Wen Ning is a dead thing, powered by resentment. Wen Ning is a capable fighter and, as we know, already has some experience leading -- there are disciples who follow his orders, there are Wen who are loyal to him, even if the books never elaborate or explore that at all we are told that he has people who will do what he says up to and including straight-up treason.

Wen Ning is called The Ghost General, but we never see him really do any General type stuff, and that makes me mad! He would be perfect for it! (Okay I mean I know I get it the whole point is that Wei Wuxian wasn’t hungry for power and authority and therefore did not ever consider leading people in that way and therefore would not have thought of appointing a General to make leading people like that easier and none of that is touching on his compulsion to do everything all the time for everyone because if he isn’t being useful then his life has no meaning okay I get it I understand but come on!!!)

I want more fics with actual Ghost General Wen Ning! I want more fics that talk about the disciples that follow Wen Ning! Doesn’t he also canonically have the ability to command resentful creatures that are weaker than him? (I honestly don’t remember on that point I might be making that up but still.)

Actual Ghost General Wen Ning holding one half of the Yin Hu Fu. Actual Ghost General Wen Ning!! Commanding armies not with an iron fist but with a gentle hand, soft-spoken and unassuming and merciful right up until the moment he isn’t anymore. Actual Ghost General Wen Ning who joins his half of the tally with Wei Wuxian’s half of the tally and proceeds to inflict an extremely thorough and comprehensive befuckening on everyone who has ever laid a hand on one of his people.

Actual Ghost General Wen Ning

He deserves it!!! He deserves it.

[naughtyintrovertreads]

Danmei Rec Meme!

*Thank you @endless-season for this tag. I know you tagged my main account, but I'll post my answer on my reading blog.

How long have you been into danmei, how did you get into it / what was your first danmei? I actually answered some of this in another post here. Officially I guess I been into danmei for 6 years.

Favourite danmei? Also in the previous post but I can list them here. Mo Dao Zu Shi by MXTX (The start of it all 😍) Scum Villain's Self Saving System by MXTX Cerulean Planet by Chu Tu Captivity by Tui How to Survive as a Villain by Yi Yi Yi Yi The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have To Be in True Love by Tui The Disabled Tyrant's Pet Palm Fish [Transmigration] by Xueshan fei hu Mistakenly Saving the Villain by Feng Yu Nie Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu Devil Venerable Wants to Know by Qing Se Yu Yi Married Thrice to a Salted Fish by Bikabi The Earth is Online by Mo Chen Huan Mist Unlimited by Wei Feng Ji Xu *Actually this is a new one

Favourite couples / characters? Couples: Of course MXTX couples included Yue Wuhuan x Song Qingshi (Mistakenly Saving the Villain) Jiang Xing x Lin Qingyu (Married Thrice to Salted Fish) Qin Jin x You Huo (Global Examination) Jianing x Jiayun (Cerulean Planet) Ye Qingling x Wu Zhi (Captivity) Xiu x Du Ze (The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have To Be in True Love) Wenren x Yin Hanjiang (Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know) Song Qinglan x Ji Yushi (Mist unlimited) Fu Wendou x Tang Mo (The Earth is Online) Character: Wei Wuxian (MDZS) Shen Qingqiu (svsss) Nero (After the Disabled Tyrant Differentiated into an Omega) *There is probably more that I’m not thinking about in the moment lol

Most recently read danmei? Heaven Official Blessing that I'm reading with a friend. How to Feed an Abyss! Part of a danmei club I joined on discord.* This is very cute so far. MC is baby. I'm also supposed to be reading Dragon Blood and Eternities Unsaid Till You Love Me for another danmei reading club I joined on discord.

Any favourite authors? Basic but I really like MXTX. Also Tui.

Any popular danmei you aren't particularly a fan of? Breaking Through the Clouds or PoYun. Kind of not a fan of cops story ACAB lol I can be easily convinced sometimes tho. I wasn't going to read The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, but friend is, so I decided to try it out.

Anything you've been meaning to read but still haven't? Little Mushroom, Golden Terrance... honestly I have a lot on my tbr 500+ more for the future lol

Choose a random (the weirder and baitier, the better) memorable scene/danmei to describe! My favorite scene I always remember is in How To Survive as Villain, I think it was the confession scene. The main character ask the male lead "Do you like me in a brother way or like to fuck me?"

Are there any particular genres/tropes you enjoy / don't enjoy? Aka - any useful info for people to send you recs ;D? I think I like a lot of tropes, but I can be picky too. (I do like wife chasing crematorium tho) Basically I would say just go for your recommendation. There's a small chance I've read it.

Any recommendations to give? Badly describe them in a few sentences. (Or however you like, your choice.) Cerulean Planet is slime tentacle alien bf. (please read tags and the reviews on novel update). The Disabled Tyrant's Pet Palm Fish [Transmigration] playing as a fish and having to seduce a human.

Tag with #danmeirecmeme for posterity!

[trans-yllz]

"I've obtained the yin hu fu!" *immediately gets stabbed*

[foularcadepizza]

She plagues me,

In a wa nae ither

Ever hus. Like an itch

Aat yi kin never quite reach.

Luikin fir remnants o

Her in every room.

Yi cannae escape her,

Yi keep luikin fir her

In every room.

Even when yi ken it's ower.

She's yin o a kind aun yi huv

Tae let her gae.

Even when yir hairt

Screams nae tae.

The quine yi shuid ae

Gien the Aird aun

Insteid gied hairt-break.

Huvin tae act like

Yi wisnae tak it aw back,

Tae see thay eens.

Kennin the love

Thay're fu o

Isnae fir yi.

Oh, tae be plagued by her.

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

cool things i saw at the shaanxi history museum: hu fu

Certificate (Hu Fu) of the King Huiwen of Qin to Deploy Forces — Shaanxi History Museum

mdzs fans might recognise this as the thing that inspired the Yin Metal (aka yin fu hu, "dark tiger command token") a fu is a type of token that gave you the authority lead troops. (it comes in different shapes, even fish) the groves in the middle allowed it to be pieced togather, the king would keep one half, and the commanding officer would take the other half. Sun Ce's courtesy name Bofu comes from this too, (Ce= strategy, Bo= first-born, Fu=Command token) his dad really went out of his way to name him Number One Strategist Legit Commander, huh.

fun facts:

this particular fu only authorises the command of 50 men. that's how strict the Qin military was. you needed a direct authorisation from the KING to be able to lead what is essentially 2 soccer teams, the subs, and maybe the umpire.

it's tiny. like worryingly small. seriously something this important should not be less than 5cm long. every general probably has constant stress dreams about accidentally leaving it behind and having to retrace their 4h trip to look for it.

they've since polished it up, it's super shiny now.

[lansplaining]

wwx was like /that/ without his golden core in canon, I wonder how he would be without his golden core and jc and jyl after the burial mounds (Imo is important that he becomes more himself after reuniting with his siblings!) (I am saying it very neutral and curious! )

damn, like the wens capture them or they're killed in a battle or attack while he's gone?

i mean, as you say, he's already Like That in canon

if he emerges to the news that Jiang Cheng and Yanli were-- let's say for the sake of argument-- killed by the Wen. we're seeing the same swathe of destruction across the country, but it's not stopping at Wen Chao. i think he's heading straight for Nightless City after that, and if he can't get close enough to Wen Ruohan to kill him, he's just detonating the Yin Hu Fu and taking down the entire city with him.

but let's say he survives, as Wei Wuxian has an inconvenient habit of doing when he intends to die. then, I think, he starts thinking. which clans had forces nearby and could have helped? who failed to hold the Wen back in their previous engagement? who could potentially, tangentially, in any indirect way, be blamed?

from the perspective of everyone else, it's just an immediate segue from one war into another, from fighting the wen to fighting wei wuxian

[bookofjin]

Three Families Divide Jin

This was intended to be a translation of the first part of the Tongjian jishi benmo通鑑紀事本末 ("Comprehensive Mirror Chronicling Affairs from Beginning to End") which is a rearrangement of the Zizhi Tongjian into topics rather than a strictly chronology done by Yuan Shu (1131-1205) . However I quickly realized that for this particular topic there is no rearrangement done, as the ZZTJ after starting the chronicle in 403 BC with the elevation of Wei, Zhan and Han immediately launches into an extended retrospective. So I guess it's actually just a translation of the beginning of the ZZTJ. I have reluctantly decided to skip Sima Guang's long commentary at the start, and after the death of the Elder of Zhi in the interest of actually completing anything. Note that "Han" here refer throughout to the Warring states era state of Han韓 rather than the later Han漢 empire.

Three Families Divide Jin

23rd Year of King Weilie of Zhou [403 BC], began to instruct Jin's great men Wei Si, Zhao Ji, and Han韓 Qian to be Marquises.

Earlier, Count Xuan of Zhi wanted to use Yao as heir. Zhi Guo said:

He is not as good as Xiao. That which people find worthy with Yao are five, that which he does not match up in is one. His beautiful temple-hair, his tallness and large size are admirable. That he shoots and drives with the strength of his feet is worthy. That his skill and craft are fully provided is worthy. That his artful writings are articulate and graceful is worthy. That he is strong, resolute, decisive and daring is worthy. It is like this, but he is extremely inhumane. In case he used his five worthy qualities to climb past people, but uses his inhumaneness to act against them, who would be able to treat with him? If in the end [you] install Yao, the Zhi lineage will surely be wiped out.

He did not listen. Zhi Guo separated from the family with the Grand Scribe, and became the Fu clan.

[Wei Zhao says: Count Xuan of Zhi was the Jin dignitary Xun Li's son, Shen. Yao was Count Xuan's son, [known as] the Elder of Zhi. His posthumous title was Count Xiang. Zhi Gao was a kinsman of the Zhi clan. Xiao was Count Xuan's common-born son.]

Among Count Jian of Zhao's sons, the elder was called Bolu and the younger Wuxu. He wanted to set up the heir, nu did not know who should be installed. He therefore wrote a speech with teachings and admonishing in two letters, and gave them to his two sons, saying:

Vigilantly familiarize yourself with it!

After three years, he asked about it. Bolu and not been able to study his speech. He demanded his letter, but he had already lost it. He asked Wuxu, he recited his speech with great practice. He demanded his letter, he produced it from within his sleeves and laid it before him. And so Count Jian considered Wuxu to be worthy, and installed him as heir.

Count Jian sent Yin Duo to be at Jinyang. He inquired, saying:

Use it as silk from a cocoon? Or use it as a protecting shield?

Count Jian said:

A protecting shield!

Yin Duo reduced the number of his households. Count Jian spoke to Wuxu, saying:

If the state of Jin has difficulties, regardless of Yin Duo being of little importance, and regardless of Jinyang being far away, be sure to use is as somewhere to return to.

[Hu Sansheng says: “To extract the people's vital bounty is like pulling a silk thread from a cocoon.”]

When Count Xuan of Zhi passed, Count Xiang of Zhi had the government. He feasted Count Kang of Han and Count Huan of Wei at Lantai. The Elder of Zhi made fun of Count Kang and insulted Duan Gui. Zhi Guo heard about it, and admonished, saying:

If a ruler does not prepare against difficulties, difficulties will surely arrive!

The Elder of Zhi said:

Difficulties will be due to me. I will not be in difficulties, who would dare to raise them up!

He replied, saying:

Not so. The Book of Xia has this: “One man makes three mistakes, will his enemies be made clear? The unseen must be planned for.” In all cases the Lordly Man is able to pay attention to small things, and for that reason he has no large worries. Now the ruler in a single feast then has shamed a lord of men and his minister. Again to not make preparations but say “they do not dare to raise up difficulties”, nothing then is impossible. If black flies, ants, wasps and scorpions are all able to injure a person, then how much more a lord and his minister.

He did not listen.

The Elder of Zhi requested land from Count Kang of Han. Count Kang intended not to give it. Duan Gui said:

The Elder of Zhi is fond of gains and is headstrong. If we do not give it, he will attack us. It is not as good as giving it. That one is accustomed to obtaining land, and will surely request it from other people. [If] other people will not give it, he will surely turn against them with troops. Afterwards we will obtain our escape from worries and wait for a reversal in affairs.

Count Kang said:

Good.

He sent messengers to bring a town of ten thousand families to the Elder of Zhi. The Elder of Zhi was pleased. Again he demanded land from Count Huan of Wei. Count Huan intended not to give it. Ren Zhang said:

What is the reason for not giving?

Count Huan said:

He has no reason to exhort land is the reason for not giving.

Ren Zhang said:

He has no reason to exhort land, the various great men will surely be afraid. Us giving him land, and the Elder of Zhi will surely be haughty. When that one is haughty, he will make light of his foes. When these are afraid, they will be affectionate with each other. Use troops of those affectionate with each other and wait for a person to make light of his foes, and the Zhi clan's lifespan will surely not be long. The Book of Zhou says: “If you want to defeat him, you must for the moment assist him. If you want to take from him, you must for the moment give to him. What the ruler [said] is not as good as giving it to him, and so make haughty the Elder of Zhi. Afterwards we can chose who to make contact with and make plans against the Zhi clan. What recourse is there in for us alone to be the Zhi clan's target!

Count Huan said:

Good.

Then he gave him a town of ten thousand families.

The Elder of Zhi also demanded the lands of Cai and Gaolang from Count Xiang of Zhao [i.e. Wuxu who had succeed his father, Count Jian.] Count Xiang did not give it. The Elder of Zhi was angry, and led the forces of Han and Wei to attack the Zhao clan. Count Xiang wanted to set out, and said:

Where can we flee?

His followers said:

Changzi is nearby, moreover the walls are thick and complete.

Count Xiang said:

The people exhausted their strength completing them. To also be wrecked and die defending them, who of them will be with us!

The followers said:

Handan's granaries and armouries are full

Count Xiang said:

[We] extracted the people's vital bounty to fill it. Also because of that to kill them, who of them will be with us! Those at Jinyang belonged to the Previous Ruler and were treated generously by Yin Duo. The people will surely be agreeable.

Therefore he fled to Jinyang.

The three families used the people of the state to besiege and flood him, that of the city walls which was not immersed measured three ban [3 ban = 6 chi]. They submerged stoves to produce frogs, and the people had no rebellious thoughts. The Elder of Zhi went to the water. Count Huan of Wei steered and Count Kang of Han was on his right side in the carriage. [A traditional chariot had a crew of three. The noble, the driver, and the bodyguard on the right.] The Elder of Zhi said:

I have now learned water can be used to destroy a person's state.

Count Huan elbowed Count Kang. Count Kang trod on the back of Count Huan's foot. By using the Fen River he could flood Anyi, and with the Jiang River he could flood Pingyang.

Xi Ci spoke to the Elder of Zhi, saying:

Han and Wei are certain to turn against you.

The Elder of Zhi said:

My Count, how can you know that?

Xi Ci said:

It is due to people's affairs [I] know it. In all cases troops from Han and Wei have been used to attack Zhao. When Zhao perishes, the difficulties are sure to reach Han and Wei. Now the pledge is to win against Zhao and then divide its land into three. The walls that are not immersed measures three ban. People and horses eat each other. The city will surrender within days, yet the two Counts have no joyful resolve, but have an anxious appearance. If they are not turning against you, then why?

Next day, the Elder of Zhi reported Xi Ci's words to the two Counts. The two Counts said:

This is a case of a slanderous person intending to be the Zhao clan's wandering persuader, making the ruler be suspicious of the two families and negligent in the attack on the Zhao clan. If not so, why in that case are the two families not profiting from morning to evening by dividing the fields of the Zhao clan, but intend to be in precarious difficulty in an affair with no possibility for success!

The two Counts went out. Xi Ci entered and said:

Why did my ruler report your subject's words to the two Counts?

The Elder of Zhi said:

Sir, how did you know that?

He replied, saying:

Your subject saw them looking at your subject in particular, and then scurried away, and [I] knew your subject had obtained their feelings.

The Elder of Bo did not make amends, and Xi Ci requested to be sent to Qi.

Count Xiang of Zhao sent Zhang Mengtan to furtively go out and see the two Counts. He said:

Your subject has heard that when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold. Now the Elder of Zhi leads Han and Wei to attack Zhao. When Zhao is destroyed, Han and Wei will be next.

The two Counts said:

In our hearts we know that it is so. [We] fear if the affair is not be carried out when the plan leaks, then the calamity would become extreme.

Zhang Mengtan said:

The plan goes out from the two Counts' mouths, and goes in your subject's ears. What is the harm!

The two Counts therefore furtively made a pledge with Zhang Mengtan, that on the appointed day they would dispatch [their forces]. Count Xiang sent people at night to kill the functionary who guarded the dikes, and then breach the water to flood into the Elder of Bo's army. The Elder of Bo's army put a stop to water but was in disorder. Han and Wei flanked and then struck them, Count Xiang commanded his solders to assault them in front. They greatly defeated the Elder of Bo's multitudes, and thereupon killed the Elder of Bo and entirely wiped out the members of the Zhi clan. Only Fu Guo survived.

The three families divided the fields of the Zhi clan. Count Xiang of Zhao lacquered the Elder of Zhi's head, and used it as a drinking vessel. The Elder of Bo's subject Yu Rang wished to get revenge on him. He therefore pretended to be a punished criminal, tucked a spoon-head dagger, and entered within Count Xiang's palace to plaster the lavatory. Count Xiang went to the lavatory, felt his heart race. He search it and captured Yu Rang. His left and right wished to kill him. Count Xiang said:

The Elder of Zhi died without descendants, and yet this person wishes to revenge him, truly a right-principled gentleman. I will respectfully release him, and that is all.

He therefore let him go. Yu Rang again lacquered his body to become leprous, and swallowed charcoal to become mute. He went to beg at the market, his wife did not recognize him. He went to see his friend. His friend recognized him, and he began sobbing at him, saying:

Due to Sir's talents, [if you were] to serve Zhao Meng as a subject, [you] would surely obtain affection and favour. Sir would then have what [you] wished to have, would that not be easy? Why then make yourself miserable like this? The search for vengeance, would not also be difficult!

Yu Rang said:

Then [I] would have given my pledge as a subject while also seeking to kill him, this is to have two hearts. Overall, what I am doing is extremely difficult, that is all. However, what I am doing perhaps might shame those in later generations Under Heaven who are subjects with two hearts in their breasts.

Count Xiang set out and Yu Rang hid under a bridge. Count Xiang arrived at the bridge, and his horse startled. He searched it and got Yu Rang, and consequently killed him.

Count Xiang, because Bolu had not been installed, although he had five sons, was not willing to set up an heir. He ennobled Bolu's son at Dai. He was called Lord Cheng of Dai and passed young. He installed his son Huan as the Zhao clan's heir. Count Xiang passed, and his younger brother, Count Huan, expelled Huan, and installed himself. After one year, he passed. The people of the Zhao clan said:

Count Huan's instalment was not Ruler Xiang's idea.

Therefore they together killed his son[s]. They then welcomed Huan# and installed him. This was Count Xian. Count Xian begot Ji, this was Marquis Lie. Wei Si was the grandson of Count Huan Wei, this was Marquis Wen. Count Kang of Han begot Count Wu. Count Wu begot Qian. This was Marquis Jing.

Marquis Wen of Wei used the Bu Zixia and Tian Zifang as teachers. Always when he passed by the cottage of Duangan Mu, he was certain to bow toward the front crossbar [on his chariot]. Many of the Four Regions' worthy gentlemen reverted to him. Marquis Wen was dranking wine with the crowd of subjects. They were having fun but then it was raining. He called for his carriage, wanting to go out into the wilderness. Left and right said:

Today we are drinking and having fun, and the sky is also raining. Why would my lord go?

Marquis Wen said:

I had an appointment to hunt with the gamekeeper. Though we are having fun, how could [I] not meet with someone at the appointed time.

Then he left and and put a stop to it himself.

Han [wanted] to borrow a force from Wei to attack Zhao. Marquis Wen said:

This Orphan and Zhao are brothers. [I] do not dare to hear the instruction.

Wei [wanted] to borrow a force from Wei to attack Han. Marquis Wen responded to them in the same way. The two states were both angry and left. Later they understood Marquis Wen was reconciling them, and both came to court in Wei. Wei hence was first to be great among the Three Wei. The various feudal princes were unable to contend whit them.