#also...what is huaien up to??

[negrowhat]

Something so simple as Xiaobao playing with the sleeve of Huai'en's robe has me kicking my feet and giggling.

[yannig]

I really like Xiaobao and Su Yin's relationship, they're really sweet

And I'm fascinated by the difference between Xiaobao's relationship with Su Yin and his parents relationship with Su Yin.

Xiaobao and Su Yin are on first name basis (as much as that parallel can be made between English and Mandarin), and they seem genuinely fond of each other. Like yeah, I can believe they grew up together and developed some very real affection.

Xiaobao's parents though? They call him Highness even when he's not there. Despite all the talk about forgetting about debts and being family, they can never really shake the formality with him, even when it absolutely isn't necessary.

Like, this exchange in the car:

Xiaobao is trying to lighten the atmosphere and reassure his parents by making a (very light and clearly joking) jab at Su Yin, and his parents immediately scold him about needing Su Yin's help and not being willful with him.

Which is fucking stupid?

For one, Su Yin isn't there to hear it, so he can't care.

For another, Xiaobao is absolutely close enough to him for this kind of teasing. I'm pretty sure Su Yin would welcome it was he here.

And finally, Xiaobao has been nothing but willful with Su Yin their whole life and Su Yin is still disobeying the fucking Emperor for his sake. I think Xiaobao will be fine.

[absolutebl]

Meet You At the Blossom - Watch Along

Maybe a trash watch? We will find out.

But first what do we know about this show?

Well, I can't for the life of me remember the title. The article placement it too weird so it will henceforth be called Blossom okay?

Here's what I learned from @renafire

Duck daddy!!!!! I bring news! China didn't kill the gays! Meet You at the Blossom is an HEA! Golden retriever XiaoBao x ice prince Huaien (who gets the shit stabbed out of him an awful lot for being a ML). A side CP of dumb, pretty bodyguard x eccentric doctor. The background plot was basically a bunch of middle age men fighting about the ML's long dead mother. Needles! So many needles! (It was practically a sickfic tbh) Flapping sleeves! Flowing hair! Poison! Politics! A villain weirdly into kites! Prisoners in chains you can easily slip your hand through! Dimples! Loyal bodyguards becoming family! It's not the best thing ever, but it ends happily! There was even a line about "true love has nothing to do with gender" which I feel like is a big deal for something associated with China?

This convinced me to watch, so I thought I'd just post it verbatim to convince you, too.

So I'd refused to watch Blossom because I assumed the leads would die or at least be torn asunder at the end, and that there would be no kisses.

So this Watch Along is going to be me eating crow.

China pretty much always does censored BL (when they do it at all) since 2017 or so. You can watch something like My E-Sports Genius Brother for the style of "happy but censored BL" that I've grown to expect from China. (Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.)

They didn't used to do this! Time once was that China was this chaotic minefield of tasty mess meets terrible tropes (like kidnapping, stepbrothers, rape, whipping boy, and dub con). I had a weird love for it at the time because it was the Wild Wild World of BL beck then and I didn't know to expect better.

I come from 90s Yaoi. Remember?

Ah the bad old days. (You can read a history of CBL here. Not updated in ages.)

Where was I?

So, what I knew about Blossom was that it was a Wuxia BL and that it was made with Thailand, or for Thailand, or something to do with Thailand (there is Thai script on the promo material) and that it wasn't being distributed inside Mainland China. (I still worry about the actors but that's kinda a natural state for me and BL outside of Japan.)

Outside of China Blossom got wide distribution showing up everywhere iQIYI (China based), Viki (Japan based), Gaga (Taiwan based) WeTV (US Based) and YouTube (Thai Channel Artop Media is serving it).

It also looks like Heavenly is involved and they are Korea based. So like, everyone had their mitts on this thing. We live in crazy times.

Okay so, here are my 20 expectations:

Pony tails with a ribbon or two

Lots of questionable older tropes, especially dub-con & kidnapping (the herb that makes you horny maybe?)

Flowing filmy robes wafting everywhere

EXTREMELY PRETTY men, costumes, make up, setting... well, everything

No consent whatsoever

Pokey pokey, but not with the right kind of swords (a naked blade will be grabbed by a naked hand, sadly also not in the preferred way)

A bodyguard hotter than he has any right to be, wearing black

Floaty fighty fighty, including but not limited to: skid backwards through puffs of dust, a leap to land + one knee down + holding sword + head bowed, a twirly protect baby from baddies

A boat in a lotus pond

Poison, probably green, glittery if I'm lucky

Circular architecture

A big fuck off fan

Puppy-cat pairing

They wander through bamboo, sit down at the edge of a lake, probubly on a log

Wound tending, of course, because there will be lots of wounds

Someone pushed onto a platform bed (also kneeling in front of it)

A jail with straw in it

Older men with sparse beards detracting from the romance

Fruit or some other food being thrown

Some serious SLEEVE action.

Li Le as Zong Zheng Huai En

Probably the reserved unhinged one. Has sword, will prod.

He has a solid track record of shows under his belt. So to speak. One wonders how they persuaded him to do BL. He sure is pretty tho.

Wang Yun Kai as Jin Xiao Bao

The son of the wealthiest man in the Jiangnan region, probably the cheerful cute one.

He's an entirely green actor.

Most of the cast is from mainland China, with the exception of Achi Sukonlaphat Sribubpha, who is Thai (obvs) and under Artop Media.

Nancy Chen is directing

She is a Taiwanese director and screenwriter, who directed HIStory 4 and HIStory 5 (neither all that great) and was behind very queer friendly Pappy & Daddy.

I wouldn't call her a stellar director. I would say I've been reserving judgement, but if you pin me down I'd call her Taiwan's New.

Pitch

Xiao Bao (cute) falls in love with icy, white-robed stunner Huai En due to an unexpected meeting. Discovers she is actually a boy (and a baddie). Hijinx ensue.

Adapted from the novel Hua Kai You Shi Tui Mi Wu Sheng 花开有时, 颓靡无声 by Shui Qian Cheng 水千丞

Co-production with China and Taiwan. But the country of origin is listed as Thailand.

12 Episodes, 40 min each (or so) for a total fresh content run time of 8 hours.

Aired: Jul 11, 2024 - Aug 15, 2024 on iQiyi, Viki, WeTV, Gaga

Shall we get started?

I had a surfeit of options since Viki, Gaga, and iQIYI all had Blossom. I like Viki's interface best, want to support Gaga the most, but in this case, I opted for iQIYI because... screen shots. So it's all your fault.

EPISODE 1: Nicknames, pretty men, dimples, twirly, stabby, floof!

I don't like the intro music, it's too slow and tinkly, but classic for the genre I suppose. Still I'm fast forwarding through all the falling cherry blossoms.

All right. Now it's about time for... YES...

Emperor Infodump

Chancellor of Extraneous Explanations

As You Know Bo

Sorry sorry. The puns must flow.

The deets: layabout emperor = chaos & suffering. New emp = strong & popular but his baby bro wants to rule. New emp exiles bro to obscurity. New emp = good ruler. Order established through patriarchal dominance. Children laughing in the street. Got it.

I will not be remembering names, FYI.

We open on kid in trouble over a kite killed(?) by baddie.

Enter pretty spangled skippy puppy McDimples. I shall call him Dimples. Dimples = spoiled rich kid having trouble finding a wife - presumably because they all know he gay.

Enter hottie evil cut-glass cheekbones McPoutypants. Haven't decided what I shall call him. It'll come to me.

Extremely pretty men. CHECK.

Ooo, a big hat on horse back!

Of course, how could I not have had that trope on my checklist? My bad.

And a bunch of assassins slow-dropping out of trees like lazy fruit. I forgot that, too.

I gotta say, fairy prince or high elf is not a bad moniker for twirly-sword cheekbones supreme.

Floaty fighty fighty! CHECK

Oh, I thought they'd go in for crossdressing at the very least but I guess they went for Dimples is an idiot instead. Interesting choice. I see we also have the "baby is a clumsy bunny" trope all set to deploy. Carry on.

Grab the sword and skid through the dirt. CHECK!

And a fainting!

Pony tail with ribbons. CHECK

Dimples might be a bit too much of a prat and an idiot for me.

[Have begun watching at 1.25 speed. Don't fault me.]

I always find the orange/yellow eye makeup that Cdramas put on characters of questionable morality fascinating. Why those colors specifically? And why eye makeup specifically?

We arrive home. It fancy. Daddy doesn't want an unknown lady for his baby (silly daddy, ladies are for ladies, boys are for boys).

Everyone acknowledging that elf prince is, in fact, The Prettiest is very pleasing to me.

Meanwhile, there is some kind of list/stuff/thingy and Prince Shen wants it and is a bad guy, maybe? I can't remember names from the beginning so I have no idea what's going on with the plot but also, it is only going to get more convoluted. Plus the weekend is coming so I'll eventually be drinking and watching this. Plot is for people who don't like BL. And don't have six bottles of sake in their fridge.

Snicker.

Where was I?

Oh yes. Judiciously NOT following the plot.

Dimples and his 2 enablers seem to share about 1/3 of a braincell between them. But they're sincere about it.

Engage secret identity trope and the expected cross dressing.

Ooo Shen is The Prettiest's uncle? Damn it I'm trying to follow the plot again. Must not get sucked into plot. This is a Cdrama therein lies madness. Ah, Prettiest is the son of the emperor's exiled younger bro? Got it.

Twirly protect baby from baddies! CHECK

And that's episode 1 in the bag. In the sheath?

My thoughts so far:

This couldn't be more exactly what I expected if it tried. I mean it is trying. And it's succeeding in being a Wuxia BL. So. Yay! Performing to the packaging. I appreciate that in a show.

I'm looking forward to more.

(On the advice of one of my spies I've switched to watching on YT when I can, YT and Gaga are supposed to have the better subs than iQIYI and Viki. That said I found iQIYI's serviceable.)

EPISODE 2: Checking a bunch of stuff off my list in rapid succession

Poisoning?

No. Sex herb? CHECK

Discovery that she is in fact he?

Dominance Tussle? Dub con? Rape? Already?��CHECK

Well that came fast (presumably so did he).

There’s a lot happening all at once at the beginning of just ep 2. 

It’s an ACCOUNT BOOK that’s causing all this fuss? Hilarious. 

Enter the anticipated hottie (bodyguard? spy?) in all black wearing a hedgehog. CHECK

(I didn’t expect the hedgehog, I have to admit.)

Oh is the single brain cell society is trying to grow additional brain cells? That's not gonna work.

Cheekbones is still the prettiest.

Oh HELLO stern grabby Daddy not-older brother of yummy. We likey.

Who do you belong to?

Why do you have The Biggest Sleeves?

Do I take that as a sign of gayness?

Please? 

Ooo looks like I’m right. 

Also this is very silly.

And "I never said she was a woman."

It’s just so funny.

OH NO!

Stern prince bro is leaving already?

I only had Grabby McDaddy for a very short length of time. I already miss him. 

Meanwhile, Dimples apparently has no compunction about being in love with a man, we blew through a bisexual identity crisis while I wasn't looking, and now we exist inside the gay=okay bubble? I did not expect The Bubble(tm) to show up in a Wuxia, but I guess this is a BL universe and we all just float around in it… 

Cheekbones is a bit of an asshole. Quite apart from the, ya know, bit of rapey rape thing.

I also did not have absolutely terrible VO dubbing on my bingo card. I forgot about that one in Cdramas.

EPISODE 3: Distracted by the pretty

Some kind of dark past for dimples and his little (not blood ) sister. 

Sniff test, the greatest trope of 2024 apparently. Nice to see the execution of a modern trope in a vintage style BL.

Aa ha! Kneeling next to a platform bed. CHECK

And more poisoning and drugs.

Wound tending. CHECK

Aweeeee Dimples is worried about Cheekbones! How cute.

Also, the ice queen appears to be melting.

Ooo. More sexitimes? Consensual this time. Okay. I guess Taiwan did get its nuts all over this show. (Honestly, that was a mistype but I'm keeping it in.)

The bit with all the bodyguards was great.

And my love for Mr. All-Black Clued-in Hottie persists.

We are now in the “does he like me back?” phase of the high school narrative. We are also in the "do I like him at all?" part of the narrative. Suddenly, this is an angsty YA. 

Ice queen has melted and is now turning into jelly. (Can you tell I’m very pleased with myself and this metaphor?) 

And now, Dimples is sick?

Boy, is this fast moving! I have to say, that is something I did not expect at all. Usually Cdramas are much slower than this.

I do love how shameless D imples is. It’s kind of delightful. He’s definitely in his bisexual awakening slut phase.

Cheekbones is also a doctor, apparently. Useful man. 

In other news: I would really like to add a full length crossover wafting robe into my wardrobe. I have no idea why I feel compelled by such a thing.

EPISODE 4: Gay sleeves AT last

Not a lot happened in this episode. Mostly flirting. More backstory and plot that doesn’t really matter. Presumably this intended to be character motivation?

We do not need him to be motivated we need him to be pretty. Understand the brief please.

Why no more floaty floaty sleeves?

Oooo, because sleeves in gay! CHECK

I did like the scene of the blood being cleaned up after the assassination attempt(?). It’s kind of nice to see that depicted for a change. I always worry about all that blood on that nice stone work.

Oh the handholding it was very cute.

Ice queen has melted and now turned entirely to jelly. Very very jelly.

Dimples is so stupid proud of his tall deadly wife. It's flipping adorable in a very goofy way.

I guess Cheekbones has come around and now Dimples has officially been claimed, multiple times and in multiple ways. He can't change his mind or anything now. Trouble is afoot...

asleeve?

ahead...

ahem.

I'll stop now.

EPISODE 5 - It is a Thing I guess?

OMG Cheekbones just loves his stilly bint of a bf. It’s absolutely absurd. The ultimate puppy/cat pairing.

I love it that he’s just casually walking around with a knife sticking out of his back and only cares that baby may have gotten a splinter in his finger.

Now we are in the vows portion of the early romance. I am assuming betrayal is coming soon? 

Grabby McDaddy! I missed you! Here to perform the part of Basil Exposition I see? No grabby for me? Sad. Unfortunately, if you aren’t flirting with a man I’m going to be fast forwarding. Although your sleeves are very nice.

Uh oh, Dimples is in trouble. 

Okay that was that. No screen caps, I lazy.

EPISODE 6 - DOOOMMMM

Oh lovely. More rape. I guess Dimples went looking for that response? Is that the implication? Does Dimples have a rape kink? What is with this show? 

No brothels for a baby I guess.

It’s not gay... it’s poison? 

It’s not bisexuality... it’s the slut herb? 

The single brain cell club is now the wailing fates. 

I guess cutting off a man’s hand out of jealousy is no biggie? Well this is a BL. Jealousy is the #1 excuse!

Fighty floaty blood spatter death! This time on wooden planks. Those are impossible to get clean. 

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of backstory and stuff I don’t care about, and probably can’t follow even if I did care about it.

I don’t like the Emperor at all. But then I don’t think I meant to. I am a little shocked that there aren’t more men with sparse beards distracting from the romance. But I guess this is a BL, they go for youth even in wuxia.

EPISODE 7 - You know what they say about a man with big sleeves?

Oh, Daddy McGrabby is back and he's a good guy (?)! He’s also in love with Dimples. 

Oh no!

What is this sensation I feel being thrust upon me?

Is that…? Is that second lead syndrome?  I think it is.

Oh well, it was fated the moment I saw the length of his... sleeves in episode 2.

Meanwhile?

Dimples gets tortured by acupuncture. 

Poisonings are always so elegant and classy in Cdramas.

Blah blah captured rescued captured rescued again sort of. Cheekbones is now seriously imperiled. We swap one for the other in Grave Danger (TM).

Enter the Divine Doctor character! Who (Dr) I have been told reliably by previous witnesses is A Favorite. I do love this particular archetype (quirky healer wise beyond his years - sometimes actual immortal. ) I am prepared to be delighted.  

EPISODE 8 - Divine Doctor is Emperor of the Gays

The divine doctor and 1/3 brain cell is not a pairing I thought was going to happen. Frankly it doesn't seem like the writers thought about it much either.

But it did make me laugh out loud.

It’s fantastic. I love them. I love this for me. I love a secondary couple for this show. Carry-on.

I LOVE THE DOCTOR SO MUCH. 

Everyone was absolutely correct. He is the best character. He is my favorite. He is openly gay and a troublemaker and absolute queen. And I adore him forever. No notes.

King Emperor behavior!

The evil crown prince has a crush on Daddy McGrabby. With good reason, he does have the biggest sleeves.

(I have a crush on Daddy McGrabby.) And he clearly likes brats, so I think the crown prince is in with a chance, actually.

(Not me, sadly. Despite the rumors I am not a brat. I make no case for this.)

EPISODE 9 - The Plot Thickens like Shampoo

Oh, Cheekbones is the new crown prince? We have a whole Snape situation going on here?

And finally Cheekbone knows what is happened to his poor little tortured Dimples. (oof that acting tho. before you say "what acting" i KNOW.)

In all honesty, I’m quite engaged by the drama of the show at this point and kind of losing my snark because of it. Don't get mad at me.

It’s not a bad show. I mean it’s a melodramatic soap opera, but that’s to be expected. It's so soapy it's like one of those extra foamy soap dispenser soaps.

To be entirely fair most gay men of my acquaintances have very similar relationship trajectories. Minus some of the casual murder (aside from character assassinations of course). 

EPISODE 10 - Oh Noes All Round

Not enough of my beloved divine doctor emperor of the gays. But you can’t have everything. 

Oh noes, my babies are fighting. 

But he brought you a big thistle! Don't fight!

Oh they get to kind of make up, or something. It’s sweet. Puppy Dimples accidentally caught himself a psychopath. To be fair tho, all cats are psychopaths at heart.

Oh noes Daddy McGrabby is planning on killing Cheekbones. No Daddy. Not the Cheekbones!

The cheek kiss from Cheekbones was so romantic. Normally I’m not a huge fan of this particular smooch, but under these circumstances it was very good.

EPISODE 11 - So Many Gay Emperors no one cares about the actual emperor

I wish I could shut somebody up by a simple double tap to the collarbone. It’s like the wuxia version of a block feature on tumblr.

Meanwhile, the part where 2/3 of a brain cell are comparing how hot their respective fierce gay emperors are to each other is truly hilarious. I actually clapped.

This is so ridiculous.

Epic eye roll from the remaining 1/3 of a brain cell. And I have to say I’m on his side in this matter.

Oh noes Daddy McGrabby is not, in fact, on the side of twrew lurve after all.

How sad. 

EPISODE 12 - The Bisexual In the Bathtub & other nursery rhymes of my youth

I love this silly bint of a bisexual in the bath between two fierce gay dudes who are about to give their life force to keep him alive.

Someone definitely once drew this as Lord of the Rings fanart 20 years ago.

I guess our single brain cell has been torn asunder. And Daddy McGrabby never did get his man.

Next series?

Bing him back to me.

With EVEN BIGGER SLEEVES!

IN CONCLUSION

All cards on the table?

This was undeniably a wuxia and most definitely a BL.

Evil stunning princely Cheekbones meets and falls in love with the bisexual Disaster dimples of his dreams. There’s a lot of floaty fighting, tangled plot, and overworked emotions. From start to finish it was exactly as it claimed to be, including more than the expected amount of sexual claiming.

I’m not wild about the wuxia genre, but I will tell you what I do like:

Very pretty men in flowing robes + eye makeup + hair ribbons wafting about stabbing and kissing each other plus ridiculous soap opera machinations. I also like cheekbones and dimples. AND I love a stupid gay sleeve, okay? There was also truly epic levels of stink-eye, and that too is to be lauded.

This show left me grinning like crazy. Was it great? Not really, but it was a great experience and I enjoyed it immensely.

I’m so glad you all persuaded me to watch it in the end.

Thank you! 

I should probably give it an 9/10 because I had such a good time watching it. But I’m not going to, because it isn’t a 9/10 drama. It had a lot of flaws chewing at that pretty (boom mic riddled) scenery, not to mention all the rapey rape.

It’s a solid 8/10

(source)

[dangermousie]

Since you tantalized me, you can’t go back. It’s OK if you can’t control yourself. I’ll control you. You can hang out with girls without fear. That’s because your Jin family is rich. Then, I’ll take everything from you so that you can’t tantalize anyone else.

Oooooooh boy, oooooh boy!!!!! This is so incredibly toxic.

Utterly unsurprising - Huaien is a murder machine who's never had a normal upbringing or relationship or emotion in his life - all he knows of relationships is his father's abuse/control and his parents' relationship which sounds lunatic. So of course he jumps into pit of insanity instead of talking things over like a functional person. The thing is, it totally makes sense for him to do so but it doesn't make it any less unacceptable.

That is why XB being such a sunshine naif is a double-edged sword - it's only because he's like that, that he's able to fall for Huaien and win his heart, but also because he's like that he totally does not get what he's gotten himself into and how terribly everything can go and what a fraught thing it is to love someone truly fucked up.

[guzhufuren]

Someone on weibo compiled Li Le and Wang Yunkai's answers to the 10 questions from the yesterdays instagram livestream, here is a brief translation by @ xiaoqiaoo_

SPOILERS FOR FUTURE EPISODES OF "MEET YOU AT THE BLOSSOM"

Question 1: What are the MBTI types of the two actors? Are your characters introverted or extroverted, and how do they differ from your real selves?

Kaikai: ENFJ. Xiaobao is an ENFP, a happy puppy.

Lele: INFJ. Huaien is an ISTJ and is more organized.

Question 2: Which part of the show left the deepest impression on you?

Lele: In episode 6, Huaien was very angry and pinned Xiaobao to the bed in the Yicui Pavilion. Afterwards, you couldn’t actually see the people inside (on the bed), only the curtain. The director told us to move inside, I don’t know if you remember. We discussed about how we should move. Eventually, we decided to kick the sheets and throw the quilt around to create some movement. I thought it was quite fun.

Kaikai: I think that was the most memorable part for me because on the first day, we had to shoot a big scene. It was a finale scene that hasn’t aired yet, so everyone can look forward to it. Although we had trained together for over 20 days and were quite familiar with each other, the first scene we shot was a kiss scene, which still made us a bit shy and awkward.

Question 3: Describe episode 6 with a few adjectives.

Kaikai: I'll start with "exciting" and "full of ups and downs".

Lele: "Volcanic eruption" and "upholding dignity".

Question 4: Share some interesting stories from the filming process.

Lele: I'll start. I found episode 6 quite impactful because I had to princess-carry Xiaobao down. I remember clearly that before we started filming, during the 20-day training period, the director told me to practice the princess carry, so I lifted Wang-laoshi and walked around the room a few times. After putting him down I realized it wasn't easy. The director said that we might have to do ten to twenty takes for different shots—wide, center, and close-up—and they didn't want to use any camera tricks (like only filming the arms touching the body to create the illusion that he's carrying a person) because it would feel different. So, every day, during the training period, after reading the script, Wang-laoshi and I would go work out to ensure we could shoot that scene smoothly. In the end, I remember doing over ten to twenty takes, carrying him both upstairs and downstairs. I still think it was quite fun.

Kaikai: The most memorable scene for me was when Huaien, suspended by wires, carried me while flying. I'm a bit afraid of heights, and I was clinging to Le-laoshi. We flew from inside the building to the outside. At that time, we had landed on the roof and looked at the moon for a little while. It was very memorable because the moon was big and romantic that night.

Question 5: What would you like to say to yourself or your character in the show?

Kaikai: I'd like to tell Zongzheng Huaien, "Be kind."

Lele: I'd tell Xiaobao to live his life well with Huaien. And I'd tell Huaien to treat Xiaobao well and live a good life together.

Question 6: Have you read the original novel, and which part are you most looking forward to?

Lele: Yes, we both read the original novel. While filming, I was really looking forward to the scene where I take the antidote back to the Su residence to find Xiaobao. There, I have a big fight with Su Yin, and Xiaobao stabs me with a sword, or at least I think it was Xiaobao who stabs me. At that time, Huaien's feelings for Xiaobao are very complicated—he feels guilt for causing Xiaobao and his family harm, yet he's still determined that Xiaobao is the love of his life. Initially, the original novel has Xiaobao stabbing Huaien, but during filming, I discussed with the director and we added a bit––which I later had doubts about––where Huaien, out of self-blame, stabs himself with the sword. This is different from the original, and I'm excited for this scene. Wang-laoshi also performed well in this scene, so everyone should look forward to it.

Kaikai: One scene wasn't filmed due to weather conditions. It was supposed to be in a cave with a hot spring, I think everyone knows about that one. Despite that, our scriptwriters tried their best to recreate all the other scenes that fans are looking forward to.

Question 7: What is your character's greatest wish in the show?

Kaikai: My greatest wish is to grow old together with Huaien.

Lele: Huaien's greatest wish is to also grow old together with Xiaobao.

Question 8: How would you interact with the characters in the show if you met them in real life?

Kaikai: I'd become good friends with Jin Xiaobao and have him take me out to eat and drink, since he's so rich, right?

Lele: If I met Huaien, I wouldn't want to deal with him because a person with his personality isn't someone I'd get along with. If I met Xiaobao, I'd want to be good friends with him and have him treat me to delicious food and drinks, as he's very wealthy.

Question 9: Which character in the show do you like the most, and which character would you like to be?

Kaikai: It's Jin Xiaobao because he's very cute and very rich. Whether in the show or in real life, I think everyone would want to be someone like him, right? Haha. He has a kind, honest and innocent side and provides emotional value to everyone.

Lele: I'd want to be Su Yin, Xiaobao's childhood friend (note: could also mean childhood sweetheart haha). Xiaobao trusts him a lot, and it's easy for him to get close to Xiaobao. But now that I'm thinking about it, it's Huaien who ends up with Xiaobao in the end. So, if you look at it that way, Huaien has a better ending.

Question 10: Compliment each other's characters.

Lele: I'll go first. I think Xiaobao is very brave in pursuing love, very courageous. He is also very sincere to his family, very kind.

Kaikai: I think Huaien is a very good learner. Whether it's in life or emotionally, Xiaobao only needs to teach him once, and he gets it right away. He didn't understand what love was at first, but after Xiaobao teaches him, he learns quickly. Huaien is a very quick learner, thanks to Xiaobao's guidance.

[theoncomingchaos]

Meet you at the Blossom Novel

I've been reading the Meet you at the Blossom novel while watching the show and so far there are a lot of things the TV series really improved on with only minimal cute scenes being omitted.

There are some things that could be really triggering for some people in the novel, but if you can get passed those, I would really recommend it for people who want to better understand Huaien and Xiaobao's thinking and the progression of their feelings better.

Below the cut I have a list of major differences, descriptions of the cute scenes that were cut, trigger warnings for the book, and a brief analysis of the development of Xiaobao and Huaien's feelings for each other as per the book that can help clarify things for the TV series- especially for all the people out there wondering if they are still lying to each other.

Spoilers, obviously, but I've only read up through the harem scene.

Major differences:

-We get to see in both Xiaobao and Huaien's minds, so we are aware of what they are really feeling very clearly.

-The TV series added plot heavy scenes that don't involve the main two boys which helps make the situation a lot more clear.

-The book has a lot more sex...pretty sure half the book is literally just smut haha

-Xiaobao has been with guys before but only because it was a huge fad for a while and all his friends pressured him. He didn't really like being with guys and was always the top. (I've heard the author really likes the "what if they are both tops" trope and that is what is happening here.)

-There are some very ominous bits of foreshadowing for much later in the book...it seems like this series is going to get VERY dark later.

-Xiaoyu wants to marry Xiaobao and the parents are on board for this because she is smarter than him and will be better to run the family business, but Xiaobao only thinks of her as a sister and is very firmly against this.

The cutest missing scenes from the book:

-Xiaobao washing Huaien's hair in the cave. This is originally how the being together forever talk happened because Xiaobao casually said he wanted to wash his hair for the rest of his life.

-After their trip home in episode 5 (after they banged in that carriage for 5 days straight) Xiaobao wants to see Huaien at night, but he's off doing his sneaky shit, so Xiaobao falls asleep in Huaien's bed and then wakes up to Huaien hugging him.

Triggers for the novel that might make it difficult to read:

-Huaien is 15...(Xiaobao is 19 which is also not considered an adult in this story, but still) I find this easy to ignore because I just imagine the drama actors and skip passed all the mentions of him being 15, but yeah...still pretty messed up.

-There are multiple graphic rape scenes that are fully depicted. Always Huaien raping Xiaobao- sometimes Xiaobao trying to rape him and getting raped instead. The TV series has handled their sex scenes a lot better.

-Xiaobao who seems to not really actually be that chubby even in the novel is fat shamed a lot

Character thoughts development through episode 5:

-Xiaobao:

I want to marry her.

I need to top him because my dignity demands it.

I just want to be with him and if bottoming is the way I can hold him and kiss him, then I can bare it. Maybe if we get close enough, he'll let me top him one day! He is so beautiful and perfect.

I want to be with him and only him forever. (Book Xiaobao has not had a wandering eye the way the TV one did.)

I am going to protect him and shower him with kindness and teach him how to love...but I still wanna top him someday. People can NOT find out that I bottom, it will ruin my reputation forever. I need to grow up, show my parents they can trust me with the family business, and make sure I can make a good future for us.

-Huaien

This dude is disgusting why is he following me around?

Sex pollen- Huaien has NEVER had sex before, he doesn't like getting close to people or having people touch him. He never has wanted anything or anyone for himself. This opened a whole new world to him and he literally couldn't stop...for probably a lot longer than you are thinking.

Well, I already fucked him, so it doesn't change anything if I keep fucking him.

Why does he seem less disgusting now?!?! I don't know what love is supposed to feel like, but he is the closest person to me in the entire world already, so if I were to fall in love it could only be with him.

Ok, he is the one thing I want. Just him. I'll finish my last mission for father and finally be free, then he and I can travel the world and be together.

I am going to love him single-mindedly like my parents loved each other. I will protect him and keep him safe. He is mine and only mine, and if he fucks this up because he is an idiot playboy with no control, then I will make it so he ONLY has me in the entire world.

Today's Upcoming Episode: (No major spoilers just speculation about episode 6)

That last cliffhanger was so brutal, I'll admit I read to the end of the brothel scene which brings me to chapter 54 for reference. I don't think it's going to go the same way in the TV series, but I do think whatever happens is going to be brutal and bring about a very unhealthy and dark turn for the relationship. Hold on tight.

[alchemist-shizun]

MYATB ep 11 commentary

LETS GOOOOOO, live reaction because i was at work for 6 hours right when the episode released!! enjoy me going insane

Xiaobao my son he's all grown up and trying to go about this the smart way, trying to convince Su Yin with logical reasons, he's amazing. Though Su Yin not wanting to listen to him breaks my heart, I MEAN THE WAY HE LOOKED AT HIM I THOUGHT HE WOULD COMPLY :(

i dont know what it is about them telling the horses to go but it's so fucking funny each time I hear it.

WhATS THIS RANDOM MURDER AOOO these strangers are bloodthirsty

the flying was incredibly off but it's fine we love this terrible green screen it makes it better <3

shaoyu appearing there menacingly, thank you

wdym he must get the crimson dahlia before he dies, DO U WANT TO KILL HIM AFTER AR EU NOT EVEN GONNA MAKE THE EFFORT well you know what su yin, well played, slay, I'd also be that lazy

"do you believe everything people say?" THANK YOU SIMING MY ONLY MAN EVER.

oh my god que siming stayed too much with jinbao now he's starting to lose braincells again

OOO SU YIN GAVE HIM THE COLD SHOULDER??

HUAIEN!!!!!

HUAIEN WHAT THE FUCK. NOW YOURE BOTH POISONED.

"Can you save him?" "of course I can" QUE SIMING THE ONLY MAN EVER, ONCE MORE.

It's killing me how Huai'en is incredibly elated that Xiaobao is worried about him and is not in the slightest caring about the fact that he's poisoned

omfg don't tell me the side couple gets together behind the scenes fr I will SCREAM.

Why can't gay people be normal it's always "I love u so much I want to lock you up and never make you leave me ever" or "let me marry your bestie/servant or I will literally destroy you" wtf

"I think you need medical attention" no way que siming just told him he needs to be hospitalized /j su yin please just rest who cares about killing anyone

HAHHAHAHA ZHAOCAI AND XIAOBAO BEING SO SHOOK ABOUT JINBAO'S CONFESSION I love them. dumbasses.

your honor i love him ( #me)

zhaocai is just completely thunderstruck about jinbao's coming out

zhaocai is the token straight in this entire cast, he is revolted and disgusted by gay people and will become homophobic at the first next sight of que siming and I would understand

NOT THE TRANSITION FROM CUTE SCENE TO AGONY.

please stop this madness stop his pain I am going to CRY STOPPPPP

THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL THOUGH. I LOVE ANGSTY SCENES LIKE THIS MAN

theyre both gorgeous and make me feel sad

"If he comes back, what will you do with him" I'm going to kiss him AND U CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BOY

SU YIN JUST SAY YOU HAVE INTERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA AND GO please

when you ask su yin any relationship advice:

i hope that was not su yin nearly crying because I cannot do this

THE SHADOWS ARE BACK

why do those look nearly like su yins robes, huai'en do u have smth to tell us..

xiaoyu singlehandedly saves the plot

I love xiaoyu because when the guy drops all the lore shes like UNFORTUNATELY I COULDNT CARE LESS

UNFORTUNATELY, HUAI'EN COULDNT CARE LESS EITHER GET THEMMM

me, seeing a strange move: what was that :0 also me seeing a weird fx: ... and what was that-

omfg not shaoyu. shaoyu is gonna get himself fuckin killed

OMFG ENOUGH TWISTS WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING

what an icon li gongxiang

OH SU YIN AND QUE SIMING ARE HERE??

su yin oh my god. oh my god stop playing the jealous bf please I'm begging u he has two hands

WHY THE FUCK WOULD SHE MARRY XIAOBAO ARE U INSANE. -100 AURA POINTS FOR YOU. WHAT EWWW

SROP STOP STOP MY BOY IS CRYING ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF EVERYONE LET ME GO CUDDLE HIM PLEASE. PLEASE. WHY MUST U BE THIS CRUEEEEELLLL

"the more I want you the faster I lose you" RIP HUAI'EN YOU WOULDVE DONE NUMBERS ON TUMBLR.

well. that was it. wow what an episode. i thought we weren't going to suffer like tormented ants tonight and here I stand corrected.. i really thought su yin would cave to xiaobao's feelings and turn over a new leaf with huai'en but I guess I was wrong :( I WANT THOSE THREE TO BE HAPPY U DONT GET IT. THEIR DYNAMIC WOULD BE SO TASTY, as I'm sure others have realized

the little twist was nice, i was very sure that Li guy was cooked and instead no. Siming was still a chaos queen, zhaocai a mood, jinbao our beloved idiot and xiaobao victim of many torturous aches, I hope the shadows are okay and me? i just want to throw myself in the river if I cannot enter the screen and hug huai'en immediately. Thank you, see u tomorrow for another one pf these.

[axolotldramas]

Meet you at the blossom ep 11 thoughts

Su Yin and Xiaobao's platonic relationship was one of my favorite parts of the show. He can be a little toxic too, as a treat

Cliffs are the real enemy of this story

"Xiaobao are you worried about me? 😍" I was also worried about him. Thank the heavens Jinbao is gay

Hey! You can't threaten Xiaobao, Que Siming! Only Huanien can do that

"Can he compare to Huaien?" I screamed

"Why does everyone want to go back to the past" Su Yin and Huaien have more in common than they think. Neither wants to give Xiaobao space to make his own decisions

Huaien holding Xiaobao while he was in pain is everything to me!!

Stop it with the kites you creppy old man. Somebody kill him already-- Thank you!

BLACK ROBES HUAIEN I'VE BEEING WAITING FOR YOU

Li Gongxiang is better at taming Saoyu than Su Yin, there I said it

I missed Xiaoyu so much

Nobody asked Tongen what she wanted all this death and pain and no one ever asked her!

Something so fucked up about "thank you for bringing Xiaobao's future bride who is also his sister and your cousin"

"The tighter I held onto you, the quicker I lost you" AHHHH 💔

[slonekaru]

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[thegreymoon]

Monarch Industry

Ah, so Xiao Qi is feeding Awu contraceptives without her knowing 😕

That’s so messed up. I realise he did it out of love and I appreciate a medieval, patriarchal man who is unwilling to breed his wife to death, but she should have been informed of what she’s taking and why. 

***

OMFG, now this idiot is going to stop the medication on her own stupid judgement!!! Because nothing is more important for a woman than having babies, amirite? 😤😤

***

Poor Xiao Qi, Zilong remains spineless, as always.

Xiao Qi is so mad and disappointed, lol, but he’s a bit of a hypocrite here because he did cover up for Huaien. 

***

I’m an idiot, I skipped an entire episode 😭 Going back to 37 now 😭😭

***

LMAOOO, well, this is accurate, she truly is an idiot 🤣🤣

But I don’t know where she got the ‘looks smart and sensible’ from, all you need to do is spend two minutes in her company to see what a gigantic spoiled twit she is. 

***

I can’t believe this fucking moron is now crying to a second Empress 🙄 Like these powerful women have nothing better to do than to deal with her petty drama with a maid, and after she was told in no uncertain terms to let it go. 

***

Ah. So they confirmed it here.

Sorry, Xiao Qi, I love you, but it’s fucked up to sterilise someone without their permission. This was not your choice to make. Also, what happened to giving your loved ones absolute freedom of choice? How does that factor in? 

***

LMAO, we all agree 🤣🤣

The Screechers are going to walk into some disaster sooner rather than later, aren’t they, and I’m going to laugh my head off. 

***

Sure, you are!

***

Except he isn’t.

***

And now he has unilaterally decided to keep this from Awu as well 🙄

***

NOOO, HELAN ZHEN, WHEN I SAID YOU SHOULD MARRY THE ASSHOLE COUSIN SO THAT YOU CAN BE ASSHOLES TOGETHER, I DIDN’T REALLY MEAN IT!

PLEASE DON’T DO IT!! 

***

So many dead 😢

***

LMAOOOO, somebody is in trouble with the wife 🤣🤣

***

LOLOLOLOL, roast him, Queen!! 🤣🤣

***

Yes, sweetheart, all he does is lie! All day, every day!! 😡😡

AFTER HE PINKY-SWORE!! 

***

He’s just lucky he’s so cute, smh.

Awu, sister, I feel your suffering!! 

***

Anyway, moving back to episode 38 now, in the correct order! 

***

Smh. 

Also, I can’t wait for Jin-er to be discovered and booted out. 

[tomorrowsdrama]

So the costumes in rebel princess are obviously beautiful and incredibly detailed.  But I love that the costuming also informs us about a character’s social standing and for some characters, their state of mind as well.  Or in Song Huaien’s case, how far into the dark side he’s gone.  He’s really the inspiration for this post.  As I was re-watching some of the early episodes while waiting for the new subs (shhh, I know I’m unhealthily obsessed with this drama), I noticed not only how drastically his costuming/hair has changed, but also that he’s pretty much a mirror of whoever he chooses to follow at the moment.  Cheng’s very own Single White Female without the obsessive craziness, if you will.  Delusional?  Sure.  But not quite crazy.

But first, let’s talk about the clothing of the noble class.  I’m sorry for this thesis that I’m going to inflict on everyone that no one asked for.  I’ve joked about the long trains on Awu/the nobles’ clothing before, but it’s clear that they are a sign of high status and wealth.  The higher ranked/wealthier you are, the longer your train is it seems.  Also, just in general, the nobles’ outfits usually include an abundance/overflowing of luxe silky and billowy material.  See:

And the nobles can afford to have such styles of clothing not just monetarily, but also lifestyle wise.  To put it bluntly, the nobles don’t have to do shit in their lives so they can afford to drag long trains of expensive fabric back and forth in their huge manors/the palace.  These clothes aren’t for functionality, but for beauty/showing off your wealth (whether intentionally or not).  If they need to go anywhere, they have comfy carriages to travel in instead of walking long distances.  If they need something?  That’s what servants are for.  I mean, just imagine how cumbersome it is to move around with such huge billowy sleeves and six feet of cloth dragging behind your ass.  You don’t have to imagine, just look at this scene where Daddy Wang visits Prime Minister Wen in prison (oh, how I regret taking this time for granted and condemning Daddy Wang for imprisoning that old fool):

Look at how his train drags over the threshold of the prison door.  Daddy Wang literally has to lift his train and throw it over a bench in order to sit down.  

The higher your status, the less physical activity you have to partake in a.k.a. the more useless you are, so it should come as no surprise that the longest train I’ve seen so far in the drama belongs to none other than our Useless Mopey Teenager Zitan:

The clothing choices are pretty deliberate, because whenever a character needs to do something more than just sit around enjoying tea (or wine if you’re Awu), they are given clothes that are more practical for moving around. Like the outfit Awu wore when she chased after her dad:

It’s much shorter than her usual garb and she’s wearing simple black pants underneath which makes horse riding and chasing after a traitorous father much more manageable.

What’s interesting is seeing the opposite happen with Hu Yao.  Hu Yao is usually in very practical and simple clothing since unlike the rest of the nobles in the capital, she has to fight against invaders and protect Cheng.  But when she goes to meet our Emo Emperor Zitan, of course she has to be dressed up in a big frou frou dress that makes it hard to walk:

It highlights just how impractical this type of extravagant clothing is for any kind of life other than a noble’s.  Hu Yao can barely walk without tripping over her own dress, let alone fight.  Also what the hell is that giant bow?

Now let’s talk about Daddy Wang’s clothes.  So before he gets exiled for attempting a coup, Daddy Wang was arguably the most powerful man in court.  He was the head of the Wangs, the most influential noble family in Cheng.  The past 10 empresses of the empire were daughters of the Wang clan, and his sister, the current empress, listened to whatever he said (for the most part).  Also his nephew wass the crown prince and easily manipulated.  He’s also wealthy AF so his status and wealth was apparent in his clothing.

Look at the sheen on that fabric and all that intricate embroidery work!  But then of course, he gets exiled and understandably has to put on some more humble clothing:

Simple, unembellished clothing made of coarse fabric that can withstand moving through the fields and rough terrain while you covertly make your way towards your disappointment of a son.  What really sticks out to me though, is his wardrobe choice after he reunites with the turnip.  Instead of going back to the lavish and ornate clothing he used to wear, he opts for an understated gray and black outfit with no long train in sight:

Turnip obviously can afford to put his dad in fancier clothing.  I mean look at the gaudy over-embroidered monstrosity that he’s wearing.  But it makes sense that Daddy Wang has now opted for something a bit more subdued and modest.  He’s been defeated once and is no longer the powerful prime minister he used to be.  Also, the Wangs do not hold as much clout as they used to because 1) empress has gone mad; 2) potato emperor is dead; and 3) the official head of the Wangs is now...Turnip.  

But make no mistake, his clothes may be simpler than before, but they’re still made out of very nice materials. He is after all, still Daddy Wang.  And Wang will rise again if he can help it! 

Next we have the seagull.  Ugh, yuck, gross, I hate her.  Anyway, now that I’ve gotten the bad taste out of my mouth...So for the majority of the drama we see her in light pastel colored clothing with little to no make up as if to imply that she’s a sweet, innocent thing:

She’s also usually pretty covered up.  But then she becomes Concubine Su (ugh) and all of a sudden she’s in bold colors, wearing red lipstick, and most noticeably, gotten very breast-y

Man, did Seagull make a wrong turn and accidentally stumble onto the set of The Empress of China?  She’s definitely got the tackiness to fit in with them.  This drastic shift in styling is clearly to signal to the audience that Seagull is now a seductress ready to do whatever it takes to hold onto that magical flute and never let go.  Also, whereas before she was a snake hiding in the grass, now it’s all out in the open (at least to the Wangs) just like her bosom.

Look, she even gets her own long train to reflect just how useless she is.

And finally, we have Song Huaien, Cheng’s very own Single White Female who molds himself to whoever he happens to follow and takes on their personality and principals (or lack thereof).

In the beginning, he is stuck to Xiao Qi’s side like a shadow, dresses similar to him, and even wears his hair like him.  He’s like the kid brother who copies everything his cooler older brother does because he looks up to him. 

Notably, he’s the only one in the Ningshuo crew who wears his hair down with a half bun, just like Xiao Qi.  Hu Guanglie (RIP best bro) is XQ’s oldest friend and literally devoted his life to him, but he’s also his own man and did not need to copy XQ.  He never wanted to be him, he only wanted to serve him. 

If you didn’t pay attention, you wouldn’t be able to tell who’s who.

When you follow a brave, honorable general who’s sex on legs, you too will be a brave, honorable and sexy general.  Song Huaien never looked better than when he tried to emulate Xiao Qi.

Interestingly, when Song Huaien goes off with Awu and starts to fall for her, he also starts to incorporate some color into his previously all-black wardrobe.  I guess spring arrived in his heart even though it was the cold winter:

Hm, now I’m starting to wonder if a part of his crush on Awu wasn’t influenced by his desire to be like XQ a little bit.  And then, sigh, he starts to get tempted by the riches of the capital city and the internal shift in his character is materialized externally through how he wears his hair in his first appearance in court:

This is the first time we’ve seen him wear his hair in any style other than the usual loose half bun.  And of course, his top knot conforms and fits in with how the rest of the ministers wear their hair.  Now contrast that with Xiao Qi who only wore his hair in a top knot once:

and then promptly went back to his usual hair style:

Sure, he looked good with the top knot (when does he never look good), but it wasn’t him.  Unlike Song Huaien, XQ is secure in himself and knows who he is.  He is not easily swayed or corrupted.  That is why he is able to remain just like how he always has been, internally and externally.

The next change we see in Song’s appearance is his armor.  Now that he is Count Suyi, his armor is noticeably more ornate.  Unlike XQ’s armor, which remains pretty much the same barebones armor we’ve seen since the beginning, Song’s gets fancier and fancier as he gets more lured in by the nicer things in life.

At this point, his hair is still down like before.  But then the next time we see him after his wedding, his hair style is changed into a high ponytail:

Which is a very good look, don’t get me wrong, but it is again another physical representation of the change happening in Song internally.  It’s kind of a weird limbo he’s in because it’s not completely a top knot, but it’s definitely neater and closer to a top knot than his previous hairstyle.  At this stage, Song hasn’t completely crossed over to the dark side quite yet.  He’s still kind of wavering and going back and forth.  So a high ponytail that is a shift from his prior hairstyle but not quite the same as the nobles’ hairstyle makes sense.  He keeps this look for a while and even momentarily goes back to his less fancy self while dealing with the floods away from the capital.  That is, until he joins hands (or is it roots?) with Turnip and it’s all downhill from there, character-wise and also appearance-wise.

First, we have this very ill-advised mustache and goatee which mimics the same facial hair Turnip all of sudden started sporting:

Matching facial hair to commemorate their entry onto the shit list, perhaps?  Anyway, turns out facial hair isn’t for everyone, including Song Huaien.  But this isn’t even the worst of it.  As Song Huaien continues his descent into being a greedy, spineless, puppet for Turnip (HIM of all people! or should I say, of all root vegetables?), he gets uglier and uglier.  I mean:

He looks downright haggard and as if he aged 20 years overnight.  Notably though, he looks exactly like the rest of the useless ministers in court.  He has definitely lost the sheen, vigor, and hotness that he once had when he was following XQ.  It’s as if the ugly inside is reflected on the outside as well.

I guess when you follow a weaselly coward like Turnip, you too will turn into a weaselly coward.  Oh Song Huaien, Song Huaien.  What a disappointment you turned out to be, you dumb, greedy bastard.   

[spickerzocker]

ahHAAA you have activated my trap card!

small disclaimer before we get started: i am not an expert (or chinese), i am just an enthusiast and haven't actually been in the hanfu space for very long. if someone has better info or corrects me, listen to them. i don't know enough about how to date things so i'm not even going to attempt that and will just be looking at the garments from a basic construction perspective.

what they're probably supposed to be wearing is hanfu - the traditional clothing of the han ethnicity.

so, in the first image jin xiaobao is wearing a round-collared garment - i am assuming it's a yuanlingpao / panlingpao (literally: round collar robe) which is a typical men's or unisex garment often associated with scholars, though it was worn by everyone. i couldn't find evidence for men's sleeveless waistcoats, though if you have some, please do correct me

Yuanlinshan (jacket version, though the page also contains the robe variations)

Panling lanshan (specific variation which was worn by scholars and officials - more pictures)

there's wide-sleeved and narrow-sleeved variations. we're looking at the narrow-sleeved version here, which is cool. what isn't cool is how tight everything is - hanfu tends to be pretty loose.

here's a technical flat of a round-collar robe:

source: nuhanfu , may require login

as you can see, the sleeve top is cut from the same piece of fabric as the body of the garment and not seamed on as in western construction - the sleevecap is "grown on" to the body of the garment and the sleeve seam hits about halfway down the upper arm.

(fun fact: this is also how you can easily distinguish hanfu from kimono - kimono sleeves do not have a grown-on sleevecap and are just rectangles. beautiful rectangles! but the bodice is also a rectangle.)

the way the bodice and sleeves are shaped in the screenshot is far tighter than what can be produced by traditional hanfu cutting techniques - clothes were made by "flat cutting" and had no shaping like darts or complicated seamlines as you see in western fashion. very "what you see is what you get" - the pattern pieces for the diagram above are the same as the flatlay if you mirror them along the shoulder line.

(chinese patterns do not have a seam at the top of the shoulder - the front and back of the garment are cut as one piece. instead, in traditionally patterned hanfu you'll see a seam at the center front and back - it's supposed to signify a person's uprightness and morality? as such, you can see it in the paintings above)

because they aren't shaped, you need to accomodate the need for movement by just including more fabric, which makes the armpit "baggy". i have also never seen a sleeve being cut from a different fabric than the main design??? but it also doesn't look like a separate garment???

you'll notice that the collar is fastened at the side of the neck (either at the apex of the shoulder or slightly to the front) with a singular button - even in the panling lanshao picture at the bottom you can see that despite it having a really wide border it stays in the area of the collar.

meanwhile, the one jin is wearing in the screenshot takes up approximately more than half his shoulder for o discernible reason? it looks almost like a pipa collar:

except those go straight across the collarbone instead of curving up first, are fastened with visible buttons and are not han in origin - they originated in manchu clothing and did not appear in hanfu until the ming dynasty and would have been an extremely odd choice.

garment collars in hanfu - wikipedia

garment collars in hanfu - nuhanfu (slightly different kinds)

also, i'm not even touching on what's going on with his tinsel pipe cleaner necklace.

i guess the second screenshot is zhongzheng huaien wearing what's supposed to be a jialoring youren - right crossing cross-collar, pretty much THE most common collar in hanfu. except, you know, it ties at the side, the placket goes along the entire top edge, and it's smooth. like so:

not whatever the heck is going on with his cowl neck looking... thing.

the third screenshot does look a lot better, if only because that bedamned panlingpao isn't there - and oh, they seem to have upgraded his necklace to something metallic, too!

they seem to have jin in a curved-collar shirt, which seem to only have been popular in the jin dynasty, though i cannot find info on whether they're exclusive to women's garments.

the loose flowing hair is also not period accurate but i'm willing to let that one slide because 1. genre conventions and 2. i am weak for beautiful men (especially if they're properly costumed)

i hope that explained some things and was not too confusing lololol

I love Meet You At The Blossom

This is Jin Xiaobao.

He's a rich, spoiled, sheltered young master looking for a wife to pamper, even though he's terrible at it. He thinks he's living some sort of love-at-first-sight/fated love romance.

This is Zhongzheng Huaien.

He's trying to help his father get his throne back, with very little considerations for motivations, morals or casualties. He thinks he's living a palace conspiracy story, which includes spying and stealing, intra-familial murder attempt, cross-dressing, and a lot of fighting.

And this is them getting thrown together into a high-heat (enemies-to-lovers?) gay epic that none of them were expecting nor are ready for.

It's going to be a fun ride!

[orsuliya]

Something that came up while I readin one of the asks. Do you think XQ knew abt SHE's crush/obsession with Awu before the final stand off? If yes, when do you think he found out and why did he never address it? Thanks in advance for your response!

Oh, he knew alright. That lovely conversation near the beginning of episode 36. was anything but subtle. Why have you been visiting the Princess so often lately, Huaien? Are you sure you go there to see Yuxiu and nobody else, hmmm? Could you sound any less enthusiastic when speaking of your supposed love interest? Saving the Princess is a great deed, but shouldn't one of Yuxiu's other qualities come to your mind first? Like her kindness or her smile maybe? Don't you think you've been distancing yourself from me, Huaien? There is something you're trying to hide...

Now, not all of those questions were asked out loud. Some of them were just strongly implied. It was an interrogation, okay? One which Huaien failed completely, not only with his words, but also with his behaviour. You can smell the guilt on him from miles away and Xiao Qi is neither a fool nor blind. He allows Huaien to stumble around, trying to find the right words, all the while watching him closely. Very, very closely.

And once he has seen enough - and once Song Huaien is all too ready to confess... something - Xiao Qi stops that confession dead in its tracks. He really doesn't want to know. He doesn't need to. It's all on Huaien's conscience; it's his heart, his life, his choices. The only thing Xiao Qi hopes for is that Song Huaien stays true to himself.

You've asked why there was no intervention on Xiao Qi's part. Well, that was an intervention, right there in episode 36. And a rather direct one too, for all that we heard no accusation. There wouldn't have been one anyway; slinging jealous, angry words around is not how Xiao Qi deals with men sniffing around his wife, even when they're not his nearest and dearest. Remember his reaction to Song Huaien's warning that Zitan hasn't gotten over Awu? How did it go again? Ah. "What will be will be." That's either zen as all hell or somebody is one hundred percent sure of his wife.

And that was with Zitan, Awu's first love. This is Song Huaien, his littlest Ningshuo bro! Of course he's going to leave the matter to his conscience; when has he ever brought pressure to bear on one of his own?

One question remains: when did Xiao Qi first come to suspect Song Huaien of nursing a tendre for Awu? I daresay he wasn't completely sure or rather steadfastly refused to pass any judgements before hearing it from the horse's own mouth, so to speak. But when did that first niggle of suspicion appear in his mind? Perhaps as early as Huizhou; there is something very peculiar about the way Xiao Qi looks at Song Huaien as his troops start to move out. Perhaps a tad later; I wouldn't be surprised if something slipped out after Xiao Qi rescued his little bro from torture, especially as Song Huaien's last thoughts before losing consciousness (?) were about failing Awu. Maybe it was during one of Awu's health crisises and maybe during her abscence from the manor. It's not like Song Huaien is subtle; his tone of voice in episode 32. as he says that there is nobody who knows the truth about the relationship between Awu and Xiao Qi better than he/the Ningshuo guys is mightily suspicious. No, I am afraid it's impossible to pin down the exact moment Xiao Qi realized something was up with Song Huaien's regard for Awu. One thing is clear - he didn't go into that conversation at the beginning of episode 36. blind or unprepared.

[dangermousie]

Monarch Industry ep 1

It’s pretty cool to see all the themes of the drama in ep 1. This is some good writing.

The aristocracy having fits at Xiao Qi being made a prince. How ironic - this thread of “he’s an unworthy outsider, not one of us” informs so many of their actions in this drama. They need him but their prejudice runs so strong they can’t see it. And it’s a lesson that they never learn.

Even in ep 1, Minister Xie (who along with Daddy Wang is one of the only two men at court with a brain) asks Daddy Wang’s general brother, who says a peasant Prince is an insult to everyone of blue blood, what would happen if Xiao Qi fails against Hulan and Hulan gets to the capital, will he, General Wang, be able to defend the capital? And even in ep 1, Wang Xu has no answer to that because he knows he can’t. They all know only Xiao Qi can defend them from Hulan, they have no other options. And this doesn’t change 60+ eps in (in fact it becomes worse since so many of their other generals are dead by then) but there is a disconnect in the aristocratic brains - they all do realize he’s their only bulwark against the enemy but they simply cannot accept that this means they must treat him better than his dirty blood warrants. They all think being made a general is already way above what he deserves and even survival of the country is not as important as keeping the old order (or at least I don’t think they consciously think so, they somehow think they can kill XQ and keep their country through magic thinking.) 

Old Emperor tells Awu in ep 1(!) that the court is not as concerned with saving the country, they are only concerned about their court positions and that doesn’t change ever the entirety of the drama. That is why Potato who listens to his mother and court is doomed and Zitan who just let the court do whatever because he doesn’t care is doomed. Honestly, Zilu may have been a tyrant but not listening to the court was damn smart. The irony is even the smartest ones like the old emperor, Minister Xie, Daddy Wang still put their power above country. They, unlike the rest, realize the country needs Xiao Qi, but if push comes to shove between their personal hold on power and country’s needs, forget it, they will kill him and worry about invasion and civil war later.

Also, even in ep 1, Awu shows she is not as classist as the rest. She tells the Emperor that of course he should make XQ a prince and whoever doesn’t like it, send them to guard Ningshuo. She says that the reason they never had a non-royal Prince is because they never had such a genius general before (fact.) She also astutely points out that general or prince, he’s just a pawn for the Emperor (so by extension, Emperor should do whatever he wants and not listen to the nobles.) In that one scene, she demonstrates more political astuteness than Potato and Zitan have in the entirety of the drama put together.

There was also this:

His generals are all excited about the royal order making him a Prince but Hu Yao points something fascinating - that the Emperor’s promise to make whoever killed the King of Hulan a prince was made to nobility. I wonder if other more noble generals tried and failed to killed the old king but also it says so much about the rigid class division that his own loyal soldiers are “this is so far out of the norm, this can’t be what was intended!” And General Hu, the most loyal one of them all, asks “why can nobility get that title but common people can’t?” Indeed. But so freaking loyal.

And then there was this, which is even more of a foreshadowing to me:

Xiao Qi orders Song Huaien to get 500 soldiers to take with him to the capital for conferment. And SHE points out, correctly, that they cannot move soldiers without an imperial edict (which they do not have - I mean they have the edict conferring him, but it doesn’t say anything about troop movement.) And Xiao Qi, even in ep 1, when he’s indubitably loyal to the empire and emperor, smiles and gently asks “And who do you serve?” And his soldiers, SHE included, snap to and say they obey. And next thing we know, Xiao Qi rides in with the 500 soldiers.

This SO significant and shows why the nobles were right to fear XQ - even in ep 1, his army is loyal to him above the emperor. Loyal enough than when asked point blank who do they listen to - the emperor (!) or Xiao Qi, they unhesitatingly go Xiao Qi, and commit what emperor could justifiably view as an act of treason. Moving troops without imperial command, even such a small contingent, is a huge no-no! These are the same men who blow up the imperial envoy in 11 without hesitation, fight the imperial troops for him in 50, who open the Ningshuo gates to a wanted regicide, who refuse to bow to the emperor when XQ won’t in 60+. The start of it is all right here - it has always been like this, in fact.

And also - even this early on, when he doesn’t think of rebelling any more than he would fly, XQ only obeys the orders and norms he thinks are worth following, not just because they are norms. When he kneels back in ep 3, he means it. It’s not a formality. Which is why he can’t do it in 61 and so on - because it is NOT a formality to him, it is genuine sign of respect and obedience (or asking for a favor) and so he cannot do it if he does not respect or obey (or have a favor to ask.) And in his quiet way - he is very mellow here, he doesn’t raise his voice - he will not brook disobedience, and he will do what HE wants, whatever the rules say, and he does not see the emperor as automatically sacred. If what emperor wants (or the law says the emperor is entitled to) and he wants (or thinks is a good idea or he’s entitled to) disagree, he will always go for the latter. This is a man who has a possibility of rebellion because he’s an independent thinker, not bound by norms, and that makes him very dangerous. He is loyal unto death but that loyalty has to be earned.

[guzhufuren]

one horrible guy (Huaien) wasn't enough, i am now adopting Shaoyu also. go babyboy fuck all up. like what is it that they put in Zongzheng men that makes them so horrible and compelling

[shangyangjunzhu]

THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY VERY LONG POST AND I AM NOTIFYING Y’ALL

SPOILER ALERTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

a lot has happened and it is kind of hard for me to remember the sequence but i’ll go through it one by one

a) asu knows that su jin-er’s kid is not zitan’s; from what we’ve seen in the drama so far it can only be tattoo general

b) su jin-er gives birth and apparently it is quite evident that the kid is not zitan’s, which means zitan has no use for her anymore and he is about to kill her tell awu asks for su jin-er and he is like okay take her away

c) su jin-er thinks awu is gonna give her poison wine but it turns out that she isn’t and instead sends jin-er and her baby off to jiangnan to live the rest of their lives together

d) there is this very interesting conversation that takes place between awu and xiao qi about how he is willing to take revenge against everyone even awu’s family, and that kind of sets the tone for future episodes

e) nanny xu misses the grand princess and goes to the monastery and ends up seeing jing-er there and that’s when huaien offs her on wang lin’s command

f) awu goes to look for nanny xu but asu tells her that she wasn’t here (he knows, he saw it and he breaks down but you know he can’t go against daddy wang); xiao qi’s soldiers dig around the monastery to find nanny xu dead; awu is devastated and she is aware that it must have something to do with asu and she obviously like i can’t trust you anymore

g) huaien and yuxiu finally visit awu and xiao qi; difference is yuxiu is here to meet them; huaien is here to plot; he reveals evidence that it was indeed zitan who plotted against him using helan zhen. s/n yuxiu tells awu that she was better off in the yuzhang mansion and that she can’t talk with huaien at all and that she can’t seem to read his mind

h) xiao qi is ready with his troops to kill zitan but awu is like wait what’s going on and after he gives her the evidence she is like “zitan is still the emperor think about the people of the country and the mess it’s gonna create” and xiao qi notices the calm in her eyes and is like “you knew all along” ( which isn’t true she found only two episodes ago)

i) xiao qi is in the court with his army and he is on the verge of killing him but awu intervenes and basically stops from doing so but not without chopping off a block of wood from zitan’s throne; it is then that he leaves but not without awu sending him off by standing on the fortress and they nod to each other (ahhh my heart) and it is then a flashback is shown which may be hinting towards the fact that all of this was done so as to let xiao qi and the soldiers leave the city so as to find out who is plotting what and then come in.

j) zitan has this whole mope session about how xiao qi almost killed him and it is then that awu gives him a whole deal of reassurance that her zitan gege shouldn’t be that way and all (i skipped through it cuz it was just so boring)

k) now that xiao qi is out, daddy wang and co. are ready to put their plan into action and they do but not without yuxiu trying to stop huaien with every bit of might left in her by literally holding onto him but huaien flings her aside and tells her that she isn’t capable of stopping him.

i) they march into the palace and it is then that yuxiu is seen from a very high part of the palace, begging huaien to not continue and telling him how they would have nothing if it were not for awu and xiao qi. she also tells him that all they ever wanted when they were back in ningshuo was world peace and that he is trying to destroy it. she tells him that she could beg awu and the emperor to forgive him and that everything will be alright. huaien is like nope and he shoots an arrow right at her and barely misses probably to deter her. but in this moment yuxiu is like so you want me dead and JUMPS OFF THE BUILDING. I kid you not he does not even go to her ; he has this little scream and his eyes just dilate and then he is like keep going. hu yao, who was left behind by xiao qi to protect awu, sees huaien and rages at him trying to kill him but ends up getting killed instead.

l) they charge and awu is like i am gonna get you out of here safely zitan and tries to use the secret passage but guess what that has been infiltrated as well. so they have no choice but to go to throne room where all the soldiers are there and daddy wang makes his epic entry shocking awu and zitan.

m) daddy wang sits on the throne and is like hahah i made it and awu is like this seat isn’t for you and threatens to kill herself the same way the grand princess did and wang lin is terrified and tries to stop her, which he does but now song huaien is like haha i am gonna be the new king now and he is like get daddy wang out of here.

n) he goes to awu and says xiao qi is useless, be with me, i am useful and pulls out the hairpin she asked huaien to give xiao qi on the day of their wedding and gives it to her. awu slaps him and is like get the fuck out of my face

o) xiao qi comes to the rescue and shoots an arrow at huaien and it is then that he reveals that he never really left and that he has known all long about him being a traitor it’s just that he never knew for whom and it is then that huaien gets up and brandishes his sword saying he did it for himself only for him to injured by a couple of spears. he says a bunch of stuff that i didn’t understand and then he dies. xiao qi breaks down and wails (oh god i cried)

p) awu finds wang lin and they have a really emotional conversation and then he dies right in front of awu.

q) awu, xiao qi, asu and caiwei are seen walking together after a brief time skip and awu tells asu that they plan on leaving the capital and going back to ningshuo, which asu tries to convince them against but realizes they are at peace there. yuxiu’s kid is shown playing with awu’s other adopted children and awu is seen crushed at how yuxiu left behind her child without even giving the kid a name. awu entrusts asu to caiwei and ask them to live a happy life. asu and awu part emotionally and awu and xiao qi leave for ningshuo.

r) zitan steps down from being the emperor and i assume jing-er is placed on the throne with asu acting as the regent.

s) awu and xiao qi are shown in ningshuo with dozens of kids and their friends from hulan assembling a map of cheng and letting their adopted daughter jump on various locations in the map the same way awu did when she was younger. awu is pregnant and they talk about how they want to watch all of their adopted kids and now their kid grow up happily

closing thoughts:

- i loved how they depicted the impact of the greed for power. wang lin, the dowager, huaien, potato, wanru are all dead and the reason lied in their insatiable greed. unfortunately collateral damage takes place too as seen with the hu siblings and yuxiu.

- i will be forever mad at how yuxiu died but jin-er is still alive; i mean i understand how awu still cared for jin-er despite her treachery and i know yuxiu wanted nothing to do with huaien and his evil ways and that she would rather die than be complicit with him but still i am so sorry yuxiu baby you deserved way better

- i do like the fact that the whole show off between awu and xiao qi was actually a secret plot; they’re good actors ngl

- i can see that a bunch of stuff has been cut off because the flow isn’t very clear but that’s forgivable as i know a bunch of stuff was cut down

- the dowager die btw like i don’t even care

- the happy ending was all i ever wanted!!!!!

- it’s confirmed; monarch industry takes the place of #2 on my list and will probably not move down further any time soon.

if you’re still here throw a comment so that we can share our feelings!