#badpoet watches nirvana in fire

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 11 Reaction

I took a break from watching Nirvana in Fire for a day to watch the Fullmetal Alchemist film that just released here in the States, and while that was an unexpectedly enjoyable diversion (if a bit too wild in its severe tonal moodswings) it feels so good to be back in hell! What fresh miseries await me this episode, I wonder. (In an additional note I feel compelled to add that I wrote the above intro back at the end of February, when I did not know that illness/the loss of my phone/a crazy busy St. Patrick's day show schedule would mean this recap was delayed not by a few days but instead by a full MONTH. But I’m finally back, so sorry about the wait ^_^)

In keeping with established Nirvana in Fire tradition we pick up right where we left off, but with the added spice of a flashback insert! We flashback to the night at the brothel when young He murdered Qiu, but this time we see it from Prince Supreme Ji's POV. Someone was beaten to death? Let me have a look! he exclaims, which would be the opposite of my reaction were I in his place. But his reaction does mean he is a potential star witness.

And we cut from the flashback not back to Team Good Boys and Ji, but to Banruo! Whaaaa? Oh, this was the information on the murder case that she got from one of her spy girls last episode. She is now reporting to Prince Yu. Since there were a lot of less important witnesses, Gao Sheng did not feel the need to have Ji testify, so Yu's team missed this until now. This throws a major wrench into Prince Yu's plans, because if he goes through with his plan to acquit He, his uncle will undoubtedly tell the Emperor the truth about what he saw, and of course the Prince Supreme is not a witness Yu can bully or bribe into silence. Banruo agrees that if Baron Wen Yuan, Qiu's father, asks Ji to testify then that is the end for Team Yu, who cannot now continue being sneaky due to this potential disaster. Saving one of your ally's sons is not worth falling out with your uncle, Banruo tells Yu: It seems that He Wen Xin can't be saved.

Yu is deeply unhappy. He refuses to give up on helping his supporter, and he says he has to make sure the Ministry of Justice is not implicated. Then he turns to Banruo: Fortunately, I have you, he tells her. He compliments her cleverness and alertness in finding out about Ji, and set his hand on her shoulder while asking How should I reward you? Oh, she toooootally likes that. I'm pretty sure she has a crush on Yu. She just tells him that even though she is a woman she likes legends about emperors and the chance to work for the future emperor is enough reward. I think she is lying. Her answer pleases him, but she has serious heart eyes going on. Either Yu does not notice or he is happy to ignore them. Just then, there is a knock on the door and it is Yu's wife summoning him to dinner, lolllllllll Banruo looks really put out at having her Moment spoiled. Does the Princess Consort realize Banruo has a massive crush on her husband? Hard to tell.

Now we go to the Crown Prince and Marquis Xie, who are chatting about the brothel murder scandal. CP is very happy: It would be great to drag the father down with this case as well. The Marquis dismisses this, saying the Baron Wen Yuan is already taking care of that so Team CP doesn't have to worry about it lol. Instead, the Marquis tells CP that his top priority should be getting his disgraced mother back in the Emperor's good books. She was expelled from the palace, remember, so the Marquis points out that Yu now has the advantage of his mother still being in the palace to pass along news and gossip to him, while CP is blind. CP says sure, he is definitely worried about that but there is nothing he can do, it is his father's decision to reinstate CP's mom or not. The Marquis leans forward meaningfully and says that New Year's is only a month away. The New Year ritual is significant somehow in potentially putting the Consort back in power, but CP and I both don't really know what the Marquis is getting at. I expect he will enlighten us.

Cut to yet another loser nobleman's son being released from custody seemingly, but this is a guy we haven't met before. His father is Master Chen, another official I don't think we have met before. He is hugely grateful to the man who arranged the release of his corrupt, arms-dealing son. And who is this man? Why, the Marquis himself! Okay, what is he up to. He obviously wants this official to owe him a favor.

It turns out this favor involves that New Year's end-of-year ritual aforementioned. In the ritual, the Emperor prays to heaven and to earth. Concubines below second rank are not allowed to accompany him onto the ritual platform. The Crown Prince, being the heir to the throne, also has a role in the ritual: he must sprinkle wine on the platform, pray to heaven, and then touch the ground while keeping in contact with his parents' garments to indicate filial piety. OHHHH OH I SEE WHERE THE MARQUIS IS GOING WITH THIS. CP's mom, Consort Yue, HAS to be on that platform for the ritual, but she CAN'T be on the platform if she is a disgraced lower level concubine. Thus she will have to be reinstated before the ritual!

The Marquis is very theatrically smug while he lays this all out with Chen. I am confused, he says, innocently: how should Imperial Concubine Yue place? Is she considered Crown Prince's mother or a lowly ranked concubine? Should she go on the platform to attend the ritual or kneel outside? Chen starts to say there is a simple solution, but we do not find out what it is because the Marquis cuts him off very threateningly. Chen realizes he is being strongarmed and meekly asks for advice. The Marquis just tells him to make sure to inform the Emperor of this complicated problem. As Minister of Rites, you have the say [in interpreting the ritual's rules], the Marquis says. So THAT is why he needed Chen's help! Okay, got it. Very sneaky.

Also, the Marquis stresses how it is essential everything go smoothly and correctly for the end of year ritual in order to make sure the next year is untroubled, and all I can think about is Mei Chang Su lololol do whatever you want with the ritual I don't think it will help much with keeping the new year uneventful.

Sure enough, Minister Chen tells the Emperor about how difficult it is to arrange CP's ritual with his mother demoted like that. CP himself is kneeling nearby listening, with his sad mama's boy face on. The Emperor considers, but then the Marquis is announced as having arrived to talk about some military stuff. Oh, the Emperor says, I forgot I arranged to meet him today. Well, since he is here, let us ask him his opinion on the ritual problem! It will be good to have someone totally disinterested and not involved in this mess give their opinion, what good luck he is here. THIS IS A DUMB EMPEROR.

There is as very awkward silence between CP, the Marquis, and Minister Chen while they all stand around watching the Emperor read the report and pretend not to know each other, lol. But then the Emperor asks the Marquis if he would be willing to help by answering a question: Do you think that it's inappropriate to restore Imperial Concubine Yue to her title as Noble Consort? Oh, says the Marquis, demurring, This is a matter of the Inner Court, I don't dare say much about it. How he lies and lies. I hate that Jing Rui lives with him and loves him. I hate it. I hate it so much.

The Emperor insists on an answer, so the Marquis replies that he thinks Yue deserves credit for CP's good virtues. Which SHOULD mean that he is saying she should be exiled not just from the palace but from the entire city itself because CP has NO good virtues whatsoever, but of course he is pretending CP isn't a useless slug of a man. He says furthermore that Yue was demoted simply for offending a superior, which everyone in court secretly thought was unduly harsh punishment, and so if the Emperor is willing to forgive her now, what is he waiting for?

Oh, says the Emperor, I forgot you would not know this Inner Court secret: Yue was actually demoted because she insulted Ni Huang in the palace. (Remember the Marquis was TOTALLY in on that plan, wowwww the nerve of this man.) I'm worried that if I pardon her sins too easily, it will be disappointing to the soldiers on the southern border. Yeah, the last thing you should want is a Ni Huang-led coup, Emperor. It is kind of remarkable that Ni Huang can have an army and the Emperor is wary of it but Jing also has an army and no one cares lolol. Hers is more powerful I suppose. But still.

CP interjects that he will personally apologize to Ni Huang on his mother's behalf, please forgive his mommm. The Marquis calmly lays out that this qualm of the Emperor's actually makes it even more necessary that he pardon Yue, because no matter how powerful and highborn Ni Huang is, she is still a subject of Imperial Concubine Yue. If she holds a grudge against her for a one time mistake that isn't how a subject should behave. A one-time mistake, oh my gosh. But of course the Marquis is still playing the role of someone who doesn't know that this one-time mistake was attempted rape -.-

He further tells the Emperor that speaking as a military man, he knows that it's easier for those with merits in the army to grow arrogant. The Emperor has already handed down extremely severe punishment to his Consort and his heir on behalf of Ni Huang; that is already more than she deserves and the Emperor should not continue to indulge her for fear that she will grow proud beyond her station. The Emperor just chuckles and says That isn't what Ni Huang is like, and it is so weird how he is so doting and nice to Ni Huang but is just the worst about everything else!

The Marquis then plays his trump card: Back then, Blaze Army grew to such an overpowering strength . . . wasn't it because we did not restrain them sooner? SHut uP YOU VICIOUS HORRID MAN YOU VIPER

The Emperor is not laughing now. He is silent a long time, then asks the Minister of Rites his opinion. Of course Minister Chen backs the Marquis. The Emperor is silent a moment longer, than says he will make a decree.

Aaaaaand then we cut to Prince Yu smashing some porcelain in a rage, and we all know what that means: The Emperor's decree was an announcement that he is reinstating Yue to her high rank. The win Yu managed to get over CP has been effectively negated. Yu's poor wife shows up to ask his opinion on New Year's gifts she is planning for his royal parents, and she tries to apologize for whatever caused him to be angry, but to his credit even though he is furious he does seem like he is trying not to take his anger out on her. He assures her she has done nothing wrong and explains the situation. Since his wife apparently gets along with Empress Yan very well, he tells her to visit his mom more often to comfort her since this turn of events is sure to bother her even more than it bothers him.

But you know who is bothered most of all? BEST BROTHER IN THE WORLD MU QING, THAT IS WHO. He's back! Along with Ni Huang herself! I guess it is a sign of how well-paced this show is that the instant I start missing characters they come back into the action. I had almost forgotten just how adorable Mu is, but he is a darling and very, very upset. There aren't even any legs for him to break this time, either. Xia Dong is also here and agrees with the raging Mu that this isn't fair. What is justice? she laments. But the placid Ni Huang says they don't have to convince her to be outraged, she already is. It is just that she already knew this was coming. Now that the Southern border is at peace, it is a perfect moment for the Emperor to reinstate his authority over her, she says. Mu is not appeased. He suggests visiting that clever Mei Chang Su to ask him for a plan by which Ni Huang can “vent her anger”, which just makes me think of her like TPing the palace or something. Stop being such a kid, Mu Qing. No, wait, I take that back. Never change. Ni Huang looks verrrrry thoughtful when Su is brought up. Is she still thinking about his weird reaction to the Lin family house?

Cut to Mei Chang Su! He is sitting on a stack of books with his socked feet propped up close to the warmth of his usual brazier and it's so cute imma cry you guys. And GUESS WHAT IS IN A BOWL NEXT TO HIM. TANGERINES. THEY'RE BAAAAAAACK. MY FAVE SIDE CHARACTERS.

Looks like he ate only one this time, and is making a game of tossing fruit over his shoulder for Fei Liu to catch and eat as Fei Liu demands. I love how he spoils his murder boy. Su is more intent on reading some stuff that he is also burning so idk what that is.

Then who shows up but Meng!! Yaaaay! He is astonished that Su is so relaxed (lol) and when Su asks why, what else should he be, Meng says Don't you know that Yue has been restored to her title??? Su's expression is less surprised and more Oh, yeah, that. Whatever. I'm sure he knew this was coming even before he managed to have her demoted to begin with. I have so much faith in his smarts.

I just came from Prince Mu's manor, Meng says. Young Prince Mu was so angry that he nearly left teeth marks in his cedar chair! Fei Liu pipes up nonchalantly from his fruit corner: It's very easy to bite. LOL WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. Fei Liu said it, Su says pleasantly to Meng, Cedar is very soft and easy to bite. It is very unfair of Troll Son and Troll Dad to gang up on poor Meng like this, but I am loving it, more more more! and then Su caps it off by innocently offering Meng a TANGERINE and that's the last straw I LOVE when this show has these weird humor moments I LOVE THEM

Quit fooling around, Meng says, disgusted that he is the only sane person here. Also he calls Su Xiao Shu again and like that is super cute in this rare playful scene but also excuse me while I go curl up in a corner and cry about Royal Grandma for a few minutes because that trauma never goes away.

Su explains that nope, he isn't surprised about Yue. The crime was severe, yes, but it was directed at Ni Huang, not the emperor himself. Our emperor never cared about the sufferings of other people, he says lightly, (what is this weird fey mood he has gotten himself into) It isn't as if you didn't know that. Meng makes a face. You don't have to say that about His Majesty, Meng complains. Nah, I'm gonna say Xiao Shu can say whatever the heck he wants about the Emperor, Meng. I'm with him on this one.

Meng explains about the whole ritual mess and why it is because CP needs his mom on the platform that Yue is being given her rank back, not because of the emperor not caring about people or whatever. Immediately Su asks: Doesn't Crown Prince have a legal mother? Wait what

Cut to the Emperor and CP walking together. The Emperor dismisses CP and tells him to go be with his mom since she has just been reinstated and all. CP thanks his dad and reiterates his intention to go to Mu's manor and apologize to Ni Huang. But instead of this pleasing his father, it enrages him. You can't get anything right! The Emperor yells at his worthless son. You are the heir! Only the emperor is above you! How dare CP demean his rank by apologizing in person??? The emperor will send someone else instead. CP looks pleased once the Emperor has walked away, I think because this shows the emperor is unwittingly showing he is invested in his chosen son's status again.

Back to Su, who has left his book-and-tangerine throne while he explains animatedly to Meng. According to the ritual, the Crown Prince should kneel down while holding onto the garments of his father and legal mother, the empress. Isn't that then what true filial piety is? OHHHHHHH. CLEVER. Also Hu Ge is so cute in how he delivers these lines, mercy.

In past years, Yue held high enough rank that she was allowed to stand on the platform with the Emperor and Empress, and thus CP was allowed to touch her robe instead of the Empress'. Su points out however that it really is more proper that CP hold the Empress' robe anyway, so reinstating Yue on these grounds is all just a ploy, not really a matter of sound ritual at all. Meng admits he thought the Minster of Rites must have a reason for bringing up this supposed ritual problem to the Emperor. Su suddenly looks like he is paying more attention. Chen Yuan Zhi? he asks. He sighs and rolls his eyes like oh, well, and then says: Since it has come to this, it's about time to tackle him. Are you freaking kidding me, Su.

(Also the camera pulls back and I see that he's been holding a tangerine this entire time asdghjkl)

Meng is instantly super worried. The Crown Prince holds too many advantages if Su wants to take out the Minister of Rites! Have you thought it through? He asks. Su looks slightly affronted to be questioned in such a way, and shuts Meng down by offering him that tangerine. Can all Su's deflection tactics in future continue to involve tangerines please. He should have brought some with him when Ni Huang insisted on that walk by his house. You want me to walk inside that creepy old place? Nah I'd rather eat this fruit over here actually Problem solved

Cut to some kinda court session, lots of ministers are there as well as the two rival princes, all reporting to the Emperor. CP, all grins, says the Minister of Rites has everything prepared for that ritual. The emperor approves, but then suddenly one of the background officials steps forward. He says his name is Tian De Zhi, he is the Deputy Censor-in-chief, and he wants to impeach the Minister of Rites. HO BOY. Does he work for Su or how does he know about the loophole? Maybe he is just smart enough to realize it on his own?? Or Su clued him in somehow??? CP is FURIOUS and tries to shut this down fast, but of course Yu intercedes. Censors are allowed to impeach people, and furthermore he hasn't even said why he wants to impeach, so just chill, he tells CP. Let him have his say!

Tian De Zhi says the Minister of Rites has seen the ritual being done improperly for years and has stayed silent, which is a dereliction of duty both morally and legally. Noble Consort overstepped the authority of the empress. Crown Prince showed no act of respect to the Empress in the ritual. It is an act against filial piety.

CP flies into a panicked rage. Yu seizes upon the opportunity to act calm and mature and logical: don't get angry, CP, we are not in a competition to see who can yell the loudest in front of the emperor, Tian just pointed out a super valid problem that we need to fix, is all. For someone who breaks dishes when he is upset, Yu sure does know how to act the cool-headed and responsible one when he needs to. What a slug. (Also the fact that CP squeaks whenever he is angry is still one of my favourite acting choices of any actor in this entire show. Makes me giggle every single time.)

The Emperor talks about how the Minister of Rites has been in this role for a long time so he would know better than anyone how to run these rituals. He cannot be wrong! Yu smoothly says that yes, probably so, however since there is a legitimate disagreement in the court about how to correctly interpret the requirements of the ritual, there should be a formal debate on the matter. He specifically says that Confucian scholars not currently in office should come debate the problem in court (I am guessing since these would be more senior scholars and ideally "purer" ideologically since they are not tied by political allegiances) to settle on an answer once and for all. CP looks horrified. He thought his life was on the upswing again, how did this happen??? He looks on the verge of tears, but he cannot think of any reasonable argument against this course of action, so the Emperor agrees to Yu's proposal, saying that it seems sensible. CP glares actual daggers at his very smug-looking brother. ALSO, since Yu was so fast with proposing this plan, I am guessing that means less that Tian knows Su and more that Su told Yu to make this happen and Yu strong-armed, bribed, or tricked Tian into helping him.

The Empress asks her foster-son later how he knew to set this plan in motion. Sure enough: Mei Chang Su gave him the idea. She is worried it means losing favor with the Emperor, since Yue is his favourite and we already know his patience is wearing thin for his sons fighting, but Yu is confident. Su says it is worth the risk to make sure Yue loses her influence, he tells his foster mother, plus even making this issue a point of debate reminds everyone in the court that CP is actually an illegitimate son even if he IS the heir at this point in time. If everyone is reminded that CP is both illegitimate AND not the Emperor's eldest son, and is really only in power because the Emperor says so, then if the Emperor were to strip him of his title and give it to someone else--like, say, to Prince Yu--then it would not be such a scandal and no one could really protest on CP's behalf because he doesn't really have any claim to the throne outside of the Emperor's favor. This whole affair will reinforce how tenuous his hold on the throne actually is.

(Of course, this also works in Prince Jing's favor, but Prince Yu has not realized that yet. I sort of feel bad about how Yu will feel when he realizes his precious Divine Talent friend has actually been backstabbing him this entire time, but then I remember what an odious twat he is and I don't feel quite as sympathetic. I still do a little, but it might just be me dreading the secondhand embarrassment of seeing him realize just how he has been played. Sigh. I hope he remains oblivious for a long time.)

And now we cut to--OH NO IT IS NI HUANG AND MEI CHANG SU. I brace myself for the Feels, but without much hope. So far I haven't been able to guard successfully against any of the emotional drubbing this show has dealt me.

They are walking together in Ni Huang's courtyard, and there are all these flowers everywhere ghhh. Su comments on how Ni Huang has seemed so unperturbed by all the insults and attacks she has suffered since she came home to the capitol. She replies as she turns to admire some plum (I think? I'm so bad with flowers) blossoms: It's just that after going through bloodshed on the battlefields I do feel a bit bothered by such malicious plots in the harem. I just don't wish to brood over it, that's all.

And then Mei Chang Su, this DUMB BOY, reaches out and plucks a fallen flower from her hair because he just can't help himself this SAD IDIOT this LONELY GENIUS FOOL. Of course she notices, and turns around in time to catch his WHOOPS expression as he realizes he has Done It Again. I freaking love every time he forgets himself around his two best loves, whether it is him smiling at Jing, or touching Ni Huang with obvious affection. He is just so untouchable except around these two and he just can't stop tripping over his heart when he is with them and I adore it. It is so sad but I adore it.

Ni Huang looks a little weirded out but mostly pleased, and Su quickly walks away, inwardly screaming. He tries to distract her by complimenting the garden, lol, but just look at the smile on Ni Huang's face as she catches up to him, she is not so easily distracted. She has just put another mark down on her mental list of 101 Reasons Why Mei Chang Su Is Lin Shu. She says not many people in the capitol are in the mood to admire plum blossoms anymore, what with all the turmoil. Su again brings this back to the attack on her by Yue, suggesting Ni Huang hasn't vented about it enough (is he just still worried about that and wants her to talk about it to him lol) but Ni Huang dismisses that suggestion: She is talking more about the increasing aggression of the struggle between CP and Yu. I heard that you were also involved, so I asked a bit more about it, she tells Su. He answers by asking her who she thinks will win the debate on the New Year's rite. Empress Yan doesn't have a son, Ni Huang replies, thoughtfully. Prince Yu has been raised as her child, so even if he wasn't appointed Crown Prince, he seems to be of a more noble identity. Su says that is only seeming; ALL of the Emperor's sons are equally illegitimate, so when it comes down to that all of them have equal right to the throne. Even, say, Prince Jing. Ni Huang's gaze sharpens. Prince Jing? She repeats, immediately narrowing in on that name in the list of names Su seemingly casually listed, because she is Ni Huang, she is brilliant, and I love her so much. Su just smirks and sidesteps, asking Ni Huang if she wants to help in his latest plot to smack Yue in the face, lol. When she just waits with a questioning expression, he elaborates: he wants Mu Qing to do him a favor. What could Mu Qing possibly do to help you? Ni Huang wants to know. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Mu Qing would be willing to do literally anything to help smack Yue in the face, including but not limited to actually physically smacking her in the face.

Meanwhile, Yue herself is walking with her son, newly restored to her position of prestige in the palace but also unhappy because she knows this rite will be debated. It was unavoidable, she tells CP. CP says he feels like Yu is coming on strong. Thus he feels that Yu must be confident of the outcome. Yu has apparently spent years cultivating respect in prominent scholars by giving gifts and whatnot, so CP feels the scholars will be on Yu's side. So what? Yue tells her son. You are the Crown Prince! Go invite your own scholars! CP has prestige and money enough that he can probably assemble a worthy team to debate Yu's team with. If bribery is the name of the game, surely there are corrupt or easily bought scholars out there willing to ally themselves with the Actual Heir. I love that Yue has to be the one to TELL him this obvious fact. CP is such a man baby.

And so begins the latest stage in the battle between Yu and CP, wherein they vie not for the support of a Divine Talent this time but the support of a bunch of old men. Brilliant Confucian scholar old men, but still. It is like the early days of Su being in the capitol all over again, where each prince is falling over himself to gain the support of some clever person and is fiercely trying to outdo the other, but this time instead of MCS they are trying to win over like twenty guys each, probably. Yu is dismayed when he finds out CP has spent a ridiculous amount of money to host his own team of scholars and to treat them royally well. Yu is worried not just because CP's team is strong enough it might actually win the debate, but furthermore he knows that they are impressive enough that even if Yu's team wins the outcome will be muddled and divisive and not a clear win. And if he does not get a clear win over CP in this debate then all his effort and the blow to his father's esteem of him will be for nothing, because the impact on CP will not be big and obvious enough to cause him any serious trouble.

Cut to Yu explaining all of this to Su, who admits that he did not anticipate CP gathering such a pro group of scholars to help his case. If only Mr Zhou could be here, says Su, and Yu responds with an incredulous Mr Zhou Xuan Qing?? So I guess this is a Mega Scholar. Legendary Scholar. Scholar Boss.

Yu says it is impossible that Zhou would attend this debate (which is being held tomorrow) because he retired into seclusion ages ago and also he hates politics. There is no way he would be willing to participate in this debate, let alone travel to the city in the middle of winter to attend. Su, however, tells him anything is possible. I heard that Mu Qing has already set out with his carriage to Lingyin Temple where Mr Zhou resides, says Su, and Ahhhhhh he said he did not anticipate CP putting up such a good fight but look he is one step ahead anyway you LIAR, Su. Mu Qing? Yu repeats, surprised. You are not the only person angry about Yue getting her position back, Su tells him, and Yu is like Ohhhh, yeah, Ni Huang is probably annoyed too, huh? Yet another example of what a raging egoist Yu is, LOL. Yeah, Prince Yu, Ni Huang MIGHT be just a little irritated.

Su says that if Zhou attends the debate the respect he has and the influence he wields is enough to make sure the ruling goes in Yu's favor. Yu asks how a kid like Mu could possibly convince such an eminent scholar to come, though? Well, we will have to wait and see, Su says, and anyway him trying can't hurt, now can it? (Mu must have some very detailed instructions because yeah he doesn't seem like a natural choice for persuading a politics-hating anti-social Confucian scholar to come to the palace. No offense, Mu, you're a dear. But it's true.)

Cut to Mu making his try. He is out in the mountains somewhere at the base of a really long flight of stone steps, pacing impatiently. Soon a kid who is probably an acolyte of some kind comes rapidly down the steps to meet him. He has to keep his eyes on the stairs the whole way to keep from tripping on those robes, poor thing. Once at the bottom, he tells Mu that Master Zhou says he no longer cares about worldly affairs, nor does he accept common visitors. Please head home. Well, so much for that trying, Mu.

Mu protests that he has something he needs to show Zhou. The kid starts trying to shoot him down, but Mu ignores him and takes out what looks like . . . a carving of a beetle or cockroach or somesuch insect? Gross. Anyway, Mu says this is a token from an old friend of Mr Zhou, and was Zhou Su's teacher once upon a time or something, is that why he is so smart what's up

You won't recognize [this token], Mu tells the kid in that earnest, engagingly open way of his, but Mr Zhou will. Show this to him. The kid takes it and looks at it skeptically, which is exactly what I would have done in his place. We flashback to Ni Huang giving the token to Mu, telling him to keep it safe. Mu strides off all purposefully and the camera lingers on Ni Huang, who is looking at the note that came with the bug rock, that has Zhou's address on it, basically. Then the scene changes and I didn't know what Ni Huang was up to but she takes another piece of paper out of a chest and FREAKING HECK IT IS A LETTER FROM LIN SHU FROM WAY BACK WHEN SHE IS GOING TO COMPARE THE HANDWRITING ISN'T SHE OMG OMG OMG

HOW DOES THIS SHOW. KEEP. BLINDSIDING ME WITH THE SADS.

Also, if any more confirmation was needed, this is final definite proof to us that she is indeed convinced somehow that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu. She compares the two papers and she looks so nervous, poor thing, she has finally 100% admitted to herself that this is what she believes, and what a thing to hope for so improbably after so long. But as she looks with increasing distress from paper to paper she exclaims Why would the handwriting be different? And her hand starts shaking and she looks on the verge of tears as she wonders if she has been reading too much into something that isn't there, and ughhhh, Ni Huang. This is so cruel. Is she going to backtrack now, after getting so close? That would be MADDENING. But at the same time there are like 40 episodes left, so idk. (Also I TOTALLY thought the handwriting would match, so well played, Mei Chang Su. My question now is did he teach himself to write differently because he is just That dedicated to this deception and intelligent enough to anticipate someone might recognize his writing, or is it his actual physical transformation that made his hand write differently? I guess I might never know. Also I remember at this point that Jing already saw MCS' handwriting when Su gave him a list of officials to befriend, and yeah he did not notice anything at all lol oh poor Jing.)

Back at Zhou's temple home the boy is running down the stairs again. He asks for Mu's surname. I'll ask about it, he says when Mu answers, and runs up those long long stairs again. All these scenes are so awkward and funny, that poor kid. Also I need to point out that when Mu is concentrating he sticks his tongue out ever so slightly and rocks forward onto the balls of his feet anxiously, and that expression is THE cutest thing in this entire show so far (sorry flashback bros and Yu Jin's everything) I am desperate please show spare this boy. I don't know what further hell is coming but like PLEASE leave Ni Huang's baby brother alone pleeeease.

Cut to the next day: Debate Day. All the confucian scholars march into the palace like opposing armies, which I guess they sort of are. Today the ideological armies; tomorrow the military ones, who knows? (This is all very fun for me because it reminds me of the Ancient Chinese roleplaying game I had to play in my honors history class back in college. We all had to memorize Confucian sayings and debate our points using Confucius to try to persuade the classmate who had to play the Emperor to support our plans and stratagems and and it was so fun to engage in that sort of mind game. That experience is partially why I love this sort of stuff in Chinese film. And also I wish this show had existed back then because it would have been sooooo much easier for me to make up a Chinese name for my character I was RPing as.)

ANYHOO.

Yu looks nervous, actually, much more jittery than usual. CP, meanwhile, looks supremely smug and sanctimonious. He has had his confidence propped up a lot by his team; clearly whether or not this mysterious Zhou shows up will determine whether or not Yu wins his case. Yu was obviously not anticipating CP gathering such a good team of scholars to back his case with. Using Yu's own tricks against him, how dare he! Yu has gambled his father's good opinion for the chance to hurt CP's standing, so the ramifications for him if CP wins the case (or even just blusters enough to prevent Yu from having a clear victory) are dire. He really needs MCS to pull through for him here.

The ominous whispering sounds of the scholars' feet as they enter the palace, combined with the boom of the gong or bell (the Golden Bell, we learn in a sec), are wonderfully atmospheric. We cut to MCS who hears the bell sounding and looks up from where he is reading a book at his tea table, and he actually looks worried. It isn't often that we have seen our man in suspense thus far, so that is notable. He leaves his table and its tiny brazier (WHERE ARE YOUR FURS LIN SHU SOMEONE TATTLE ON HIM TO THE GRUMPY DOCTOR PLS) and goes to stand in the doorway yearning to know, surely, what is going on in the palace. Everything is up to Mu and (funnily enough) Yu, now, and that must be very difficult for Su to accept and trust. Su asks Li Gang if Mu has returned yet; No, is the answer. Li Gang hesitantly asks if Su is hoping too much in expecting Master Zhou to travel to the capitol just because of a jade cicada. Oh, is that what that bug is. Okay. I still don't get it, but okay. It's been years, Li Gang reminds Su. But Su is 100% certain that this is enough to bring Zhou; what he is not confident in is Yu's ability to stall the debate long enough for Zhou to arrive, LOL.

And now! DRAMATIC! CONFUCIAN! DEBATE MONTAGE! I freaking LOVE this show.

Yu looks a bit embattled, but he is clearly trying his darndest. I wonder what the actors are saying, obviously I cannot even attempt at reading lips. CP looks way too confident and calm. Su passes the time of waiting by intensely toying over the lit brazier with the tile he wants to burn with this debate (namely, the Minister of Rites), and he still looks wholly too cold. FURS, people. I wonder what sort of signal will let him know if Zhou has arrived? Or maybe just one of his men will tell him. Just how close WAS Su to this esteemed scholar? Why is he certain the cicada will lure the man from retirement?

(Also he is still not bundled up. Someone needs to teach Su how to wear his furs for function instead of just fashion, this brat)

The tension rises until: HERE COMES MU QING WITH AN OLD MAN WHO CAN ONLY BE MASTER ZHOU, and a more unlikely couple of travelers you could never find. When they reach the palace steps, Zhou stops to bow with such deliberate and slow reverence (a brilliant intro, as we can already tell just from this one moment that yes, this man is a stickler for the Rules and someone to be reckoned with. This show is a MASTER of show-don't-tell) and poor Mu is actually dancing with impatience, he is so frantic but he can't afford to offend the old man by rushing him, ahaha. Bless. I would pay to see a, like, one-shot short film that's just chronicling how incredibly awkward Mu and Zhou's journey back to the capitol must have been. I feel like I have missed out on some good stuff, here.

Zhou's entrance into the throne room is like a thunderclap; EVERYONE notices and is stunned. Jing looks a bit awed and has also never looked handsomer. Yu looks elated; he definitely knows this is Su's work and thus that his victory is assured. And what is extra brilliant is that of course Zhou looks completely impartial, he hasn't even been in the city for years, so the Emperor will not suspect Zhou's arrival to be due to any sort of Yu scheme. Instead, Zhou's return both legitimizes Yu's claim that this ritual business is a Big Deal, AND will make sure the outcome is what Yu wants. Genius.

Su continues his hypnotic dance over the fire with the tile, and the music is so GOOD btw. It's both melancholic and triumphant, but still feels like building tension somehow instead of purely cathartic. In an interesting editing choice, WE the viewer know before Mei Chang Su does that his play has worked and Zhou has arrived in time. We get to see this in person, and then cut back to Su still caught in the throes of his suspense, left out of the action even though he has orchestrated the whole thing. It feels uncomfortable and wrong to be more in the know than Su! But I am sure that is the point. I feel bad for him. I also feel like I should take notes on whenever we the viewer are given more power than Su in the narrative because this might be the first time it has happened, hm.

Li Gang runs in, and that is all the signal Su needs. He finally, finally drops the Minister of Rites into the fire.

Then we get a fade to black transition (not many of those in this show yet, so that is worth noting) to a really odd (and, yes, heartbreaking, because HELLO this is Nirvana in Fire) scene, an indeterminate but short time later, with Su still sitting at that brazier and Li Gang dutifully stirring the charcoal to keep the embers burning. Su is warming his hands at the fire, but then as Li Gang watches in worry and then dismay, he reaches his hand further into the very embers, as if trying to pull something out of the charcoal. And of course he burns his fingers, and snatches his hand back, and he just starts to laugh, helplessly and bitterly. This is so sad you guys. The worst is just watching him trying to calm himself and lock himself back under control, we never get to see Su raw and emotional yet, he is always caging what he really feels. To see him break for a moment and then have to fight for that control again is just really hard to watch. It isn't healthy to try to keep all that bottled up, Su! It makes you snap in stupid ways--by reaching out to touch Nihuang's hair, for example, or to touch an ACTUaL FIrE PLS DONT DO THAT.

(This reminds me I still have no idea why this show is even called Nirvana in Fire everything has been very cold so far because winter but still. I mean, obviously the main fire element highlighted so far has been the brazier, even in the opening credits, but idk. I'm going to have to keep that question in mind and maybe I will get an answer some episode.)

So Li Gang watches in no small amount of horror and concern as his beloved leader is just madly laughing/crying over his burned hand. And then he and we are both treated to THIS lovely Su monologue:

Do you know that my hands--they once held great bows and tamed fiery steed? But now, they can only stir up chaos here in this hell of schemes. He says it like it's some awful, bitter joke, and Li Gang looks so worried and upset, and I'm with him on this 100% this is awful and this scene definitely makes that coup of a victory seem a bit hollow. Su is winning, and yet he is so MISERABLE I can't. This scene takes all the happiness out of this episode's victory, because this is Nirvana in Fire and we Can't Have Nice Things. Thanks, show.

Cut to: IT'S JINGMUM SHE'S BACK. Have we seen her with Jingyan before, I can't remember if they have shared a scene yet but I don't think they have??? Regardless, seeing them together cheers me up considerably after the last scene, although also every time I see Jing I am stabbed with teh sads anyway just because he is him. He is still wearing his red/blue/gold outfit so he seemingly came straight to his mom after that debate, presumably to share the news? I want a lot more scenes between my fave mom and son duo in future episodes, please.

The music is still soulcrushingly beautiful and melancholic as Jingmum approaches her son and asks him what is the matter? and I adore how she says his name, it's so sweet.

I have already started to vie for the succession of the throne, Jing confesses to his mother, and oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. He's making it official. This is It. His mother looks dismayed and confused as she searches his face: You're assisting Crown Prince? Or Prince Yu? Oh, of COURSE she would think that and would be distressed by it! She sounds so disbelieving, but even before she finishes her question, Jing is shaking his head: No.

I am fighting for myself. (I'm going to cry, Jing is fighting for himself, finally, finally)

Jingmum watches in silence (though with an ever so slight narrowing of her eyes, which I am sure is the moment she starts thinking Okay, who put you up to this, boy) as he further explains: I want to get the throne. For my brother, Prince Qi; for Xiao Shu; for everyone who was wronged . . . I have to get the ultimate throne.

Jingmum's face clears and she stops looking upset, instead just looking a little sad. She asks her son: You have made up your mind? Yes, he answers. This is very difficult, she warns him; I know that, he replies. So she takes a deep breath, and she tells her son: Go ahead then. Now Jing looks a little distressed, but when he tries to say something to her, she cuts him off. I have loved this woman in all of her scenes so far, but this scene is hinting at even further depths for her; when she warned Jing about the difficulties ahead of him in winning the throne, she said it as someone who is intelligent enough to know in an instant exactly what those difficulties will be, and her sudden authority here is so quietly fierce, her voice suddenly sharp. Don't worry about me, she says. Be it a success or a failure, what is there to fear as long as we stick together through life and death? And Jing, who had indeed been looking worried/guilty about what his gamble might mean for his mother, just gives his mom this tiny, tentatively reassured smile that breaks my heart. I am so, so excited about what Jingmum's support for her son's play will mean in this show going forward. He obviously thinks the world of her, and so do I. Is he going to tell her that MCS is working for him? Because once she finds out that MCS is responsible I bet Jingmum is going to be CLOSELY watching this strange strategist, and once she is closely watching him, she has to figure him out fast, she seems really smart. In fact, all women in this show in general are all more perceptive than the men, lol, which is fun.

We get yet ANOTHER fade to black, so I feel like that is a signal that this is the end of act 1 for Jing, as well; he has officially accepted his role in MCS' plot, and now the story is going to start racing forward with all the hell that probably entails. The music finally drops away, too, yet another signal that this is the start of a new phase. Next scene is outside the city: we are back with Prince Mu and Scholar Zhou, who are riding together in a carriage that is presumably taking the scholar home after his surprise appearance at the debate. This is the first time we actually get to meet the scholar as a character, and I really like his voice. He asks Mu to confirm that the person who told you to bring me the jade cicada will be waiting for me outside the city. Mu says yes, he will meet you at Lingyin Temple. Wait, Su is meeting him???? Zhou looks thoughtfully at the cicada. And sure enough, when he disembarks from the carriage in the next scene, there is Mei Chang Su waiting for him (wearing one of his fur capes this time, thankfully). Does this jade cicada belong to you? asks Master Zhou, and when Su says it does, then who gave it to you?

Li Chong, Master Li Chong, replies Su. Lucky he had this jade bug on him when he was off in his father's army all those years ago, I guess. He could have left it at home. Zhou looks pleased, and the two of them withdraw from Mu and the retinue to have a moment of private conversation. Zhou asks Su how he knows Li Chong, and Su replies that he was once Li Chong's student. Zhou talks about how Brother Li Chong was the Imperial tutor but also taught many commoners, so he had many students. He did not, however, have many students who he would consider his protégés (which is what I guess the gift of the cicada signifies). I have met them all, Zhuo tells Su. As for you, we don't seem to have ever met.

And the episode ends there, as Su considers his reply! An odd place to cut the episode, I can't tell if the show intended it to be a cliffhanger or not. It isn't much of one, since Zhuo seems rather kindly and curious and not like he is any kind of threat to Su's disguise, though I'm curious how the rest of their conversation plays out. But I guess it was just a convenient stopping point. If this show was released two episodes at a time, it makes more sense.

A lot happened in this episode! It really felt a lot like the close of an opening act, so I am eager to see how the show takes off from here, now that our cast of characters and stakes and goals are all clearly established. Jing is officially in it to win it, Nihuang is officially suspecting Mei Chang Su, and Lin Shu is officially making me cry in every single freaking episode; now that we have Jingmum's blessing, let the fight for the throne officially begin!

[abadpoetwithdreams]

I'm tentatively planning on starting a sideblog for my Nirvana in Fire recaps, to make it easier for people who don't necessarily love Tolkien/Yona/dance/the various other things I talk about here to follow and read them. Still gotta pick an URL but I think that'll be helpful for y'all, thoughts?

[abadpoetwithdreams]

I’m back!

How the world has changed since I last updated, right? Part of that change has involved me being furloughed from my job and being trapped in my house for 24 hours a day, every day—which means it’s time I get back to watching NiF.

I have unfortunately been stymied in my efforts to watch the show for a long time, thanks to Viki removing the English subbed version of NiF and replacing it with…

[abadpoetwithdreams]

‪Me: *craving more Nirvana in Fire*‬

‪Me: *starts in on ep16 recap*‬

‪MCS literally 90 seconds in: . jingrui. . . that child . . . there are not enough words‬ . . .

‪Me: *immediately and intensely regrets everything*‬

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Back after Hiatus

Greetings, all! After a looooooong unplanned but unavoidable silence I am back with more NIF goodness. I got promoted at work, took some travel time, AND had to prep for a massive dance competition and life just got too exhausting and overwhelming for recap-writing for a few months. I’m sorry for making you wait! As a Christmas present I will be finishing my recap for ep15 (which I actually had…

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Episode 15 Recap

SO, obviously I was unable to get this done before Nationals. Furthermore, I was unable to get it done until after Regionals. I severely underestimated how exhausting all the dance training combined with my full time job, my part time teaching, AND my traveling to both dance championships would be. So I apologize for being so late, but here’s hoping that I can move much faster in future because…

[abadpoetwithdreams]

[abadpoetwithdreams]

In regards to my Nirvana in Fire recaps, I know I am very far behind on when I said I’d get my next recap posted, but Nationals shook up my schedule a lot more than I thought it would, so I did take off a few weeks. My apologies! I’m working on it now but the fact that this is apparently a verrrrry dialogue-heavy episode is also proving slowing, lol. My plan is to have it posted by the end of the week and then to go back to more regular/frequent updates—especially since I am on episode 15 now and once I get thru episode 17 I am officially in new, unspoiled territory (when I started watching the show before I started recapping it I got up to episode 17 before starting over to write entries for each ep) which is very exciting and also scary! Cheers, all ^_^

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Obviously I was unable to finish up my NiF recap before Nationals, but I’m back now so I hope to get it finished today! Thanks for your patience, folks ^_^

[abadpoetwithdreams]

In which Ni Huang cries, Mei Chang Su cries, and I cry. Oh, and Yu Jin’s dad is introduced and does NOT make a great first impression.

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 9 Reaction

In just one week I will be taking to the skies yet again, this time to go visit my dear friend ewokshootsfirst for two weeks! So as of this typing I hope to finish this reaction post before I depart, since I do not expect to get any writing done while I am away, but if I don't manage that feat then, um, sorry, and I guess you are reading this in early February instead of mid-January. (Note: GUESS WHAT it's February I literally resumed watching this ep as SOON as I was back in the US and dramafever stopped blocking my videos (I found out even saved-for-offline-viewing videos are unwatchable overseas the hard way, lol). I did write about half of this before my trip, but the rest is post. While very jetlagged.)

Episode nine begins with a focus on a sign that apparently reads Su Residence hanging over a doorway, so this is our cue that Mei Chang Su has, indeed, moved out of the Snow Cottage. Ironically, his new manor is covered with literal snow, as the fall from Jing Rui's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Night has evidently not slowed, but never mind that. I hate that now whenever I see snow falling at night my first thought will be good time for a murder, btw. Thanks, Nirvana in Fire.

There are lots of workers bustling around carrying furniture and sweeping and mending things and doing other busy moving-house work, and in the midst of them in the middle of a snowy courtyard Fei Liu is building a snowman. Or at least he is piling snow up in a shape that might turn into a snowman. Maybe he is building a SnowMeng to destroy. Su is watching him fondly from beneath a sheltering jut of roof. When a man (might be Li Gang, hard to tell from this distance) tells Su he should go inside, because it is too cold for him out of doors (he looks very bundled up in this scene), he says okay and then immediately is like FEI LIU THROW ME A SNOWBALL which is the exact opposite thing to what he just agreed to, sighhhh. So he starts playing catch with Fei Liu in the snow, and it would be adorable because he looks so giddy and happy, but I'm with his household on this one, GET INSIDE AND GET WARM, MCS. Why do even the cute things on this hell show just make me sad??? A woman also scolds him and tells him to go inside (and again he says okay and doesn't budge, behold Actual Child Lin Shu, ladies and gentlemen), but then a fellow named Doctor Yan shows up, and he looks Serious. All it takes is a harrumph from the imposing-looking doctor, and Su guiltily, reluctantly, retreats indoors. This is an oddly charming scene, but of course in typical NiF fashion it's also terribly sad, because it isn't fair, our hero should be able to play in the snow and enjoy the chill air, and it's yet another reminder of how he is caged: in his invalid body, in his false face and persona, in his self-imposed quest for justice. Strangely enough, this scene reminds me of how Jing Rui described how carefree his friend Su was before they returned to the capitol together. For the first time, I can sort of imagine what that would have been like, and it is heartbreaking.

Young Master Lin Chen is so smart to have sent Doctor Yan over, Li Gang says with a smile, as he watches Su re-enter the house. Ahh, Lin Chen, the sword dancer! Nice to hear his name mentioned again, as I have not seen him since episode one and I quite liked him in that ep. Also a reminder that he was the one looking after Su's health, and it would seem that has not changed.

Meanwhile Minister Gao is happily pouring himself a relaxing cup of tea, cheerfully expounding upon how good he feels now that he has handed the murder well case off to the other ministry as Ban Ruo suggested. If he had kept working on that case any longer, he jokes, I'm afraid that this case might still be around but I wouldn't be. His audience, one of his subordinates, laughs politely and then says slightly apologetically that The magistrate of Lantai County seeks an audience. Gao reacts as poorly as might be expected, all happy relaxation feelings gone, but his officer hastens to reassure him that this is nothing like the murder well case. It is simply that people have spotted a beast on Xiaogu Mountain. Wait, what? That has to be relevant to the plot somehow but as of now it just seems really random. Gao says the other man should take care of it on his own, and expresses his fervent wish that no more cases implicating imperial officials pop up. I don't think he will get his wish; not as long as Mei Chang Su lives, anyway.

Now it is time to check in on what Yu is doing! A new character has arrived to meet with him: this is Minister Qi, and I thiiiink he is Yu's ally in the Ministry of Justice, because he reports that Minister Gao took Ban Ruo's hint and sent all case materials to the Ministry of Justice, and Yu responds by saying that now he knows that the case is in Qi's hands he no longer worries about anything. Minister Qi smiles way too much, it's creepy. Well, smile while you can, mister; I am certain MCS will come for you eventually! Qi reminds Yu that if they manage to take down Lou Zhi Jing then Yu will be able to hopefully install one of his supporters in the highly influential Minster of Revenue position, further growing his political power. Yu definitely knows this already, so this is just early-episode exposition to remind the viewer of where the stakes are in this situation.

Cut to: Mei Chang Su again, and AHH I LOVE THIS SCENE. Mainly because it introduces what is one of my favourite bits of MCS Extraness™ so far, namely, the game pieces. Yeah, that's what I want to call them: these wooden tiles carved with a lot of writing I obviously can't read. Are they supposed to be a visual nod to mahjong, with its eliminating pairs of pieces from the gameboard? (Since as is revealed in this scene, Su is balancing how he is crippling CP and Yu by taking out their allies in even matches?) Anyway, he is holding two of them meditatively, as he sits in his new manor, and when Meng shows up to ask what he is plotting (hi, Meng!), Su begins to lay out the rules of this deadly game he is playing with the powerful officials in government.

Yu and the Crown Prince are vying for the throne, says Su. We know this. He then goes on to elaborate, however: each prince has equal power over the six ministries of government. We already know CP has Revenue and Yu has Justice, but now we have confirmation that this equal balance exists. Meng, listening, suddenly frowns and stoops closer: there on the table are six wooden tiles, each painted with the name of a ministry. THE GAME IS AFOOT, WATSON. I LOVE THIS. It's both really cool, a very clever and dramatic visual way of helping the viewer keep track of what is surely about to become a very very complicated game of politics, but also just a little chilling to see Su literally reduce people in the capitol to pieces in his game. Is there a tile with Jing Rui's name on it because I wouldn't be surprised. Just disappointed.

Meng lays each piece out and says what each is, which I appreciate because dramafever wasn't subtitling the tiles themselves and for an instant I was worried I'd have to track down online translations for them (I have tried to avoid any and all googling related to this show because I'm terrified of spoilers). The Ministries are:

Justice, Personnel, and Public Works (Yu's team) Revenue, Justice, and Rites (CP's team)

Not sure why Justice is listed on both sides, unless they are different branches of it or something. Or just a subtitle thing again. Guess I'll find out as I go along.

Meng pauses, considering the tiles, and then looks up at Su, who has been watching him in silence. You are thinking about cutting off their supporters one by one? he asks, looking, I think, a bit concerned. Su smiles like this is a private joke, then replies that he isn’t just getting rid of the six ministries (JUST the six ministries, oh yeah, because obviously that would be underachieving), he is getting rid of our old friend the Duke of Qing (who has been haunting the doings on this show ever since the beginning of episode one!) and the Marquis of Ning as well. Military? Meng asks, and Su confirms. He is looking not just to destabilize the powers that be in government: he means to utterly tear them down. Lin Shu has come home to ruin the lives of everyone who wronged him and to raise up the righteous and guys I'm getting emotional about this I have to move on.

As we already know, the Marquis supports CP and the Duke of Qing supports Yu, keeping that balance of power equal. And now Su starts illustrating to Meng how he has started to tear his foes apart, all the while carefully keeping that balance so that they do not suspect: the Minister of Revenue, Lou Zhi Jing, is done for after the whole Orchid Garden scandal, taking out one person from team CP. And how does Su illustrate this? By picking up Revenue's tile, considering it for a moment, and then casually tossing it into the brazier so it can burn there and keep him warm. Lin Shu is my favourite drama queen, this is so unnecessary and yet so satisfying. BuRN THEM BURN THEM ALL

Furthermore, he reminds both Meng and us the viewers, the Duke of Qing has also been taken down, so that's one less ally for Yu. Su allows himself a tiny smile at this one, and then yep, into the brazier the tile goes. Prince Yu might still want to fight for his ally, though, says Su, and even more ironically he might come to Su for help in that fight. And then, with perfect comedic timing cutting the tension of this scene: in comes a servant announcing that Yu has just arrived for a visit. Meng is impressed by Su's predictive skills, but you can just see the animation leave Su's face, and indeed his entire body; he visibly sags, steeling himself. He may have anticipated the visit, but he is not happy about having to deal with Yu again. He was enjoying showing off to Meng, I think; enjoying being able to share his plans with a friend he can trust.

Meng says ah, I will go into hiding before Yu comes in, and I was honestly a bit disappointed he didn't just do the ol' lampshade over the head and stand in a corner bit or whatever the equivalent of that is in ancient fantasy China, but he exits to hide much more sensibly and now we cut to see Yu stepping down from his carriage at Su's door, and he is wearing this giant collar of almost blue fur, his outfit is exquisite. Oh, and we also see Su return his wooden tiles to where he stores them in a plain wooden box at his side, while meanwhile the Duke of Qing and Minister of Revenue are burning merrily away in the brazier. Still totally legible, by the way, but this doesn’t seem to worry Su so I won’t let it worry me either (but can you imagine how amazing it would be if Yu noticed, ahahaha).

They talk about the Duke of Qing case a little and Yu tries to act like, oh, that's all water under the bridge, no hard feelings. But then he makes a formal bow (!) and asks Su for help on the case! Father has already formally summoned Prince Jing today to appoint him in charge of trying the case, says Yu. Su does a very good fake surprise reaction at hearing this.

(We are also treated to a glorious little scene that basically just consists of the Minister of Justice scurrying to welcome Prince Jing to his office and praising Jing for his military service and commenting on what an honor it is to have him visit (lies) and not-so-subtly asking why are you here instead of resting on your time off from the battlefields? and then Jing turns around with icy deliberation and just fixes him and his sycophancy with the most deadpan, scathing Look, and WELCOME BACK JINGYAN I HAVE MISSED YOU SO)

Back at Su's house he asks Yu: didn't you or the Crown Prince protest Jing taking control of this case? Yu looks unhappy as he admits that the Emperor has forbidden them from getting involved, and further that whatever Jing decides will probably go in the Crown Prince's favor (since, remember, Yu's ally is in the wrong here, and Jing will always be fair). But Yu cannot do anything to interfere, or his dad would be very upset. He also admits that he is worried because he cannot bribe/influence that stubborn Prince Jing anyway LOL. That's my boy!

Su looks a little proud of that stubborn Prince Jing but he does remind Yu that Jing owes him a favor (for shielding him from punishment in the Ni Huang case). Yu just huffs a small, disparaging laugh at that:

You might not know what my seventh brother is like. I have never sen anyone in Imperial Court who is as thickheaded and behaves more like an old fogey. Not even father can handle him at times. I'm afraid that small favor isn't enough to make him obey me.

Priceless. Mei Chang Su, listening to Yu's analysis of Jing, looks increasingly amused, but manages to hold himself in check. He also fidgets a bit with his right hand (all these closeups of Hu Ge's hands are killing me btw I always love watching how people use their hands in film and his are so nice. Yes, I guess I have two fixations on this show: Su's hands and Jing's eyebrows.) which I guess is significant since the camera focuses on it but I don't know why. Maybe that's his tell when he's thinking hard, I'll have to pay more attention in future.

Su says So essentially you want me to somehow control Jing to make sure the Duke is spared punishment? Yu leans forward eagerly: that is exactly what he wants, and if Su can do it, Prince Yu will be extremely grateful. Su keeps fidgeting with that hand. Maybe it's more just a tell of when he wants to kill someone lol

Meanwhile, Jing is making the Minister of Justice's life miserable by reciting the protocol for the trial at him, demanding proper preparations be made, and announcing his Imperial-ordained authority over the trial. Qi tries to bluster and delay by saying he hasn't received any orders from the Emperor yet, so he cannot start doing what Jing says until he gets said orders! Jing blinks, taken aback a bit: I AM the Imperial order, I just told them to you right now, he says. That's not the same as actually seeing official paperwork, Qi simpers, and it's easy to see why he likes Yu, they are both super slimy. Look, Prince Jing, he says, in a very insincere show of apology, I wish I could start helping right away and it isn't like I WANT to make you look bad, it's just that official protocol says I cannot do what you say until I get the paperwork. Aw what a shame. Oh, and also I am already busy with many important cases and am understaffed etc. etc. so you might have to wait a while to get this case started anyway! Poor Jing looks very put out, but he cannot exactly argue. How long does Qi need to prep the case? he asks. Oh, not too many days, Qi replies. It should only take maybe two weeks? How does two weeks sound? I hate Qi. Jing considers, then steps forward. The official paperwork will arrive tomorrow, and I will return here then, he says. By then, think carefully before you answer me. And then he just WALKS like a BOSS out of there, knocking Qi deliberately aside with his shoulder as he goes and totally ignoring the Minister of Justice's attempts at speaking to him further. He's so sick of having to deal with this horrid little man already and he hasn't even properly started the job yet, poor Jing.

Back with Su and Yu: Su tells the prince that what he is asking for is a dead end path. When Yu is confused, Su explains: Yu is very powerful and has everything going for him but he has forgotten the most important rule: that there is one person against whom you must never set yourself, namely, the Emperor. Yu leaps to his feet, alarmed. What? Su is mistaken; he would NEVER go against his father's will! This is a big deal not just because obviously one must not cross one's emperor, but also the emperor is Yu's father so doing anything against him is a huge crime against his filial responsibility as well as his political allegiance. No wonder Yu has such a violent reaction to Su accusing him of such an act.

Our Mei Chang Su, however, is unfazed. Who do you think demanded that Qing be tried to begin with? he asks Yu. Do you think it was the Crown Prince or Jing? No; it was the Emperor, and thus if you try to interfere with the outcome of the trial in anyway you are setting yourself against not one of your brothers but against the Emperor himself. DO look at the big picture, Yu.

Yu sinks back down, shaken. Is there really no solution? Yu asks. Su shakes his head: The Duke of Qing is a lost cause, he says, and I think Your Highness knows it. (This is intercut with the Duke of Qing and his family being dragged out of their house in chains, to emphasize just how Doomed he is.) Yu takes a bracing gulp of tea and says he does not think Su understands just how important Qing is to him. Oh, I do, says Su, with a slight chuckle (you have NO idea, Yu). Yu starts to question why Su left the Marquis' manor so quickly: surely there must be a reason? Su dodges the question, and Yu backs off a little disappointed, but then vows that as long as you are willing to favor me, the gates of my manor will always be open for you. Su doesn't exactly look thrilled by this promise, but that's just what he gets for his deceptions working so well. I'm pretty sure in the novel I remember him literally throwing up after spending time talking with Yu because Yu nauseates him literally that much, so I like imagining that that expression is just his fighting not to hurl face. All of Mei Chang Su and Yu's conversations are made even better by just keeping in mind that Su is spending them fighting not to literally vomit.

We meet yet another new character: Lie Zhan Ying, Jing's adjudant general! He works with Jing so I automatically like him. He also has something of Jing's straightforward, no-nonsense mannerisms, which is a nice way to remind us of the divide between the political and the pugilist lifestyles, I love all the attention to detail in this show. Ying has arrived at whichever political building is holding the plaintiffs in the Duke of Qing case, to collect them and bring them to Jing's manor. The official who meets him at the door is wholly obliging, in stark contrast to Minister Qi's attitude towards Jing earlier. This official also mentions that the Crown Prince sent a message saying Prince Jing is going to all this trouble, so we mustn't hinder him. He also mentions how We are all working for the Emperor here, so basically Mei Chang Su was 100% correct in his advice to Yu and Yu has dodged a bullet by taking his advice and not trying to mess with the case. His meddling would have been VERY obvious and would have made him look VERY bad.

We return to Su and Yu, the former of whom is apparently walking the latter out. Yu takes a moment to ask if there is any further advice that Mei Chang Su wishes to impart? In my opinion, replies the very innocent and unbiased Divine Talent, it's best for Your Highness to abandon Duke of Qing State now and support Prince Jing. YOU SNEAKY CAD I LOVE YOU. (Sidenote: I forget if I mentioned this before, but the lighting work in this drama is delightful. This scene, for example, looks so very cold even without the clouds of breath curling up when the actors speak, it's lit so everything and everyone looks so frozen and sharp and blue. I'm yelling at my screen for Su to go put that gorgeous fur collar back on, even Yu is wearing his furs for goodness' sake, BEHAVE, LIN SHU.)

Yu is taken aback but considers. Jing is a prince, he says, and is acting under Imperial decree. No one, therefore, would think to stand against him; what does he need Yu's support for? Okay, so he has seemingly conveniently forgotten that that is EXACTLY what HE was planning to do just a few minutes ago. After a moment he grudgingly concedes that Minister Qi miiiiiiight stall things a bit, but that is all. Su, who totally eye rolled when Yu played innocent, shakes his head with a smile. Certainly Jing might need the support of the Ministry of Justice for the case, he says, but he isn't just talking about this mess with Qing. He is talking of all the days to come. And I start cackling at the look on Yu's serious duped face because I swear, if Mei Chang Su successfully tricks Prince Yu into supporting Prince Jing and aiding in his ascension to power, I will laugh myself SICK. THIS IS SO GOOD.

Su calmly explains that there will be more cases to be tried after Qing, and many of them will undoubtedly involve powerful families and wealthy landowners like the Duke. How could Prince Jing handle that alone? If Prince Yu were to throw his political weight behind Jing, then not only would Jing truly owe him on a scale that he could not ignore, but the Emperor would also be pleased because this would help him in implementing his agricultural policy. It is a win-win, Yu! Listen to the Divine Talent!

Sooo . . . you are having me draw Prince Jing over to my side? Yu asks slowly. My cackling intensifies.

Yep, that is correct, Su says, and with a touch of smugness: I have been planning this since the Ni Huang incident.

Yu is most impressed. He presses Su to tell him what the point of this strategy is. Su answers easily: What is the fuss about losing the Duke of Qing State? In terms of military power would two Dukes of Qing State even make up for one Prince Jing? OH, BRILLIANT. When presented like that, it make SO much sense! If you can get Jing on your side everyone is always on about his stubbornness and his lack of subtlety, so he would be the ideal ally. Plus, everyone (Yu and CP included) keep overlooking him because he has zero political power. But he has spent his entire adult life building military power. So of COURSE he would be more valuable a military ally than Qing! LIN SHU I LOVE YOU. AGAIN.

Prince Yu spends a full ten seconds silently having his mind blown (yes, I timed them, because his myriad of baffled/astonished/delighted expressions was HILARIOUS to watch, all hail this actor) but he emerges out the other side with a giddy smile. If I could win Prince Jing over, that would be great! He exclaims excitedly, before sobering a little to add that but judging by his temperment he wouldn't obey my orders to summon the army when I need him. LOLOL I WANT TO SEE THAT AU PLEASE.

Again, Su looks pretty amused by this read on Jing's character. He reminds Yu, however: why on earth would Yu ever need an army? Is he planning on taking the throne by force? WHAT? NO THAT IS CRAZY TALK, says a very worried Yu. That's right, Su. Play him like a fiddle.

We interrupt this scene to enjoy a temper tantrum being thrown by good ol' CP, who is raging about how Yu has essentially done in Lou Zhi Jing. Fine, then, he shouts, I will make certain he loses the Duke of Qing, too! And thus he is following neatly the path Su has laid out for him, effectively disguising the hand of Mei Chang Su in all this. The Marquis, much calmer (he always worries me, he is too clever), says CP doesn't have to worry about the Duke; even if Yu dared try to meddle in the trial, Prince Jing wouldn't back down. The Duke is doomed. Similarly, though, the Marquis points out, Lou Zhi Jing is also definitely going to be convicted of his various disgusting crimes. This means that the position of Minister of Revenue will soon be vacant! If CP acts fast, he can recommend one of his allies to the position before Yu can and thus can take control of that political seat and tip the scales in his favor. CP is mollified by this, but then goes on to scoff at the Marquis' urging that he not be anxious:

As long as Mei Chang Su exists how can I possibly remain calm? No matter where he moves to, you have to get rid of him!

Uh, oh. The Crown Prince storms off and the Marquis does not look unduly bothered by the order. Ugh, Jing Rui, you deserve so much better but your father is a toad.

Back with Yu and MCS, Su is continuing to remind Yu of his place. In the capital His Majesty is in charge of the Palace Guards. Commander General Meng watches over the palace. Should anything go wrong, who would have the chance to launch an attack once the Imperial decree was made? Yu looks so intensely uncomfortable. You're right, he admits to Su. Su reminds him the goal now should be to gain the Emperor's favor.

As to who gets military support, it's just a matter of perspective. What's the point of having [Jing] obey your every word? Even if we were to say at the least that should Crown Prince one day seek to hatch an evil plot and put His Majesty in danger, or to go against his decree, judging from Prince Jing's personality would he wait to be summoned by you to defend His Majesty?

Yu thinks this over, sighs, and agrees. Prince Jing prides himself on being righteous, he says disapprovingly. Oh, Yu. Su reminds him that helping Jing doesn't mean doing anything grandoise, just--be friendlier. It seems I will have to pay a visit to Prince Jing's manor tomorrow for your sake, Su says. He explains basically that Jing is super dumb when it comes to politics and so he must himself intercede to Jing on Yu's behalf to let him know what's up, otherwise Jing probably wouldn't even recognize any favors Yu does for him. Su is so mean when talking about Jing, he must love him very much. Also, this is hilarious that he has justified his comings and goings to Jing's manor to his enemy like this, so now when Yu sees Su with Jing he will just be happy and think they are working for him, while they are all the while working together to burn him down. Yu even bows to Su in gratitude, thanking him for his hard work, and if Yu wasn't such a hateful snake of a man I would feel very sorry for him right now. But he is, so I don't. Plus Su's blank, dead-eyed expression as he accepts this wholly misplaced gratitude has me laughing. He looks like he is 0.0005 seconds away from just turning to the camera and breaking the fourth wall like he's on The Office. Yu also pledges to be personally responsible for Su's safety, no matter what CP and the Marquis try. How many birds has Su killed with this one stone of a conversation? Lots of birds.

Yu magnanimously says Su does not have to walk him out, as he is an invalid and it is still very cold and wet; melting snow or rain or both has been dripping from the rafters of these scenes for quite some time now. Su watches him depart, and then Li Gang rushes up with The Fur and it's like the sight of the thick cloak reminds Su that he is cold; where moments before he had been holding himself with perfect ease around Yu, he now shivers and clutches the cloak close. I am very grateful to Li Gang for taking care of my boy. I wonder if Su deliberately ordered his men not to give him any warm wraps until after Yu left, for appearance's/pride's sake.  The two men return inside, and Su explains to a wondering Li Gang that he had to spend a very long time talking with Yu because Yu is difficult to deal with: he is very meticulous. Interesting.Whenever Su admits anyone is a challenge to manipulate I feel like I'm marking off this character checklist in my head: knowing that Su feels he has to tread carefully when speaking with Yu, for example, will add a nice layer of tension in their future meetings.

What is heartbreaking about this conversation is it is one of the few times we have so far where Su really does seem to be at his limit. He just seems so very tired--mentally from the intricate net he had to weave to catch Yu in, emotionally from having to pretend to be so cordial and mild-mannered around Yu when probably all he wants to do is stab Yu in the eye repeatedly (or, like, shoot him in the eye with an arrow, I suppose, wasn't it mentioned that Lin Shu's weapon of choice was the bow? A super awesome choice, by the way, as it is yet another shade of character depth: our hero's specialty was ranged weaponry and now here he is in the thick of the action in the capitol having to deal with all his enemies up close and personal. Just a fun little note), and physically because of the whole, you know, not-so-slowly-dying thing. Let the man rest! Where did that grumpy doctor go??

And, alas, Mei Chang Su cannot take the time to rest. Already he is moving onto the next stage of his plan: he tells Li Gang as they walk along (with Li Gang carefully supporting his boss, I am so grateful for this man) that he needs to visit Prince Jing tomorrow. Oh, and that he will also be bringing some golden chainmail. Whaaaat? Is it going to be dangerous? a very alarmed Li Gang exclaims. Su indulges first in a solid couple seconds of flat, disappointed staring, and then with a most massive eyeroll and silent sigh before he begins explaining, poor exhausted man. This is why he needs someone like Ni Huang on his side, someone similarly brilliant to himself and capable of making the same intellectual leaps he does, so that he does not have to constantly be explaining himself all the time. He just looks and sounds so Done.

The chainmail is to be a gift for little Ting Sheng, he says. That's super cute. But Li Gang disapproves, saying such a gift will be too suspicious coming from the East Yangtze Alliance leader. True, true. But it is odd that Su had not considered that; another sign seemingly of how worn thin he is right now. He asks Li Gang what he should do then (again, odd that he is asking someone else's advice, I cannot recall him doing that before??) but before Li Gang can come up with an alternative (he looks pretty stumped) Su calls Fei Liu (who was chilling on the rooftop, as one does) and tells him he will be giving a gift to Ting Sheng tomorrow. When Li Gang starts trying to comment on this plan, stating and restating the obvious about how Fei Liu is so eccentric no one will think such a valuable gift weird, Su juSt LIFTS his hand without even looking to coVER LI GANG'S MOUTH MID-SENTENCE, silencing him, and then he has the gall to look grumpily at his hand and SHAKE it like "EEW" BEFORE WALKING OFF he is so DONE LIN SHU IS DONE WITH TODAY HIS PEOPLE WOULDN'T LET HIM PLAY IN THE SNOW AND THEN HE HAD TO SPeND HOUrs PRETENDING TO LIKE PRINCE YU AND HE JUST HATES EVERYTHING I LOVE HIM SO MUCHHHH. WHAT AN ICON.

Then we get a hilarious scene where Minister Qi happily reports to Yu that he stalled Jing and sent him away earlier and it was so easy because Jing is a political idiot hohohoho and then Yu steps forward menacingly and is all Who told you to make him leave? and Qi suddenly realizes with a look of absolute horror that he did the Wrong Thing and it's beautiful. This show is so sad and so intense and so emotionally complex and then it every so often just turns into this terrific comedy of errors (that scene with the two princes madly competing for Su's attention at the combat trials always comes to mind as a brilliant example of this) and its so? Funny? This show is a GIFT.

Cut to the Marquis of Ning's manor at night, presumably that night! He has a headache. His son in law--Jing Rui's brother-in-law but also maybe Actual Brother because this family is so messed up, the pugilist dad son whose name I forget--shows up to report that he has sent out some men. Are you confident this time? asks the Marquis. Based on earlier goings on I'm guessing this is yet another attempt on the Divine Talent's life. Over at Su's manor, he is trying to convince a very disapproving Fei Liu that golden chainmail is a good present for Ting Sheng. Once he explains that Ting Sheng is not as good a fighter as Fei Liu and thus chainmail is something he will both like and actually find useful, Fei Liu is sold, and as always I really enjoy this scene between just the two of them, but then they hear a commotion. Go ahead, Su tells a suddenly alert Fei Liu, who darts off. Su then deliberately starts reading a book and ignoring the various sounds of fierce combat coming from outside, lol. Or at least trying to ignore; he's probably just trying to distract himself since he can't go join in. Li Gang eventually reports that all intruders were killed, so so much for the Marquis' second assassination attempt!

Next day we see Su stepping down from a carriage at the gates of Jing's manor. The Sad Music is back and he's got that awful heartbreaking Look on his face again--the one he had when Ni Huang led him to his old house, the one he had when royal grandma ripped my heart out. So I immediately am like OH NO and I try to brace myself for something soul-crushing. But you know what I have learned? You cannot brace yourself for any of the pain this show inflicts. If Nirvana in Fire wants you to hurt, then by golly you are going to HURT, and there is nothing you can do to prevent that.

Because we suddenly get a freaking FLASHBACK. A FLASHBACK YOU GUYS. We haven't had any flashbacks before except to the battle where Lin Shu fell off that cliff!!! And now out of NOWHERE we see a 17-yr-old Jing SMILINGGGGGGG ANd LIN SHU IS WITH HIM AND LIKE IT'S SO CUtE I CAN'T THEY'RE RuNNING UP tHE STePS TO THE GATe AND NOOOOOOOO

AND WANG KAI'S V.O. SOuNDS SO DIFFERENT FROM HIS USUAL JING VOICE It'S SO HAPPY???? MY BOYS WERE HAPPY THEY WERE FREAKING BEST FRIENDS I KNEW IT I kNEW IT and LIN SHU WWAS SO CUUUUUTE LOOK AT THEMMMMM

(Also like they're wearing the same colors so I love that visually, obviously, but also lol Lin Shu changed his WHOLE physical appearance somehow to disguise himself but his clothing is EXACTLY the same what a loser)

So the gist of the V.O. is that my fave boys were each other's fave boys too and Jing got this mansion when he was just 17 and eagerly assured Lin Shu that as far as he is concerned it is Lin Shu's as well because Shu is is best friend and what is his is theirs as far as he is concerned and omg someone make these tears stop

(ALSO he mentions that Prince Qi was the one who found the place for him! How much older was Qi than these two when he died? My impression is old enough to be the impressive cool role model but young enough that they felt personally close to him too. I'm gonna guess mid-20s????)

The flashback ends with the camera lingering to watch the shades of these two laughing, affectionate, bright-faced boys running side by side through the gate and up to the house, running away from us, as we can do nothing but watch them rush blithely forward, knowing what horrible, unfair futures await them. It's so mean, and so effective. I LOVE it. I'm also left shaken not only by the unexpected glimpse of what Lin Shu and Jing's past lives were like and what they both have lost, but by the certainty that this short flashback must surely mean there are MORE flashbacks coming in future and OH NO but also OH yES GIVE ME ALL THE PAIN.

We return to present-day Lin Shu, who is standing gazing up those stairs, watching his past self disappear. This place hasn't changed at all, he says, quietly. It's just like how it was back then. MY HEART.

And now here comes Jing to greet his guest. He bows coldly but politely, and Mei Chang Su pays his respects too. I am in agony. Ting Sheng is very cute and bows all the way to the ground for Su, his savior, and Su helps him up with a smile and he's so sweet with kids you guys

Ting Sheng really lights up when he sees Fei Liu, who proudly bestows his gift on the kid. When Jing realizes what the gift is, he bristles and tries to give it back to Su, saying it is too valuable a present. And Su, wholly innocently, says the gift isn't from him, for goodness' sake, it is from Fei Liu, so go talk to him about it instead! Poor Jing is so confused by this, clearly unsure of how to deal with Fei Liu. The latter of whom promptly snatches the chain mail back from Jing's hands and plops it firmly back in Ting Sheng's arms. Su watches, not even bothering to hide his amusement, and Jing after a moment's inward struggle gives up and invites Su inside, effectively allowing Ting Sheng to keep the chainmail after all. Point to Mei Chang Su! The boys scamper off to play together or fight together or whatever and their fake dads head inside for their own meeting.

(Jing's outfit is especially beautiful today, btw. I missed you, Wang Kai.)

Jing introduces Su to his guard as his friend Su Zhe, and then the two of them retreat further to Jing's private study. Along the way, Su is plainly eating up the place with his eyes, these halls must be full of ghosts for him. He pauses to look out over a courtyard, and Jing pauses too, to confess that all those men they spoke with had been present when Su's arrival was announced: they had wanted to see the famous Su Zhe for themselves. So we took a detour? Su supplies, with mild good humor. Jing's subtly changing expressions here are a marvel: slight embarrassment at being found out, relief that Su is not affronted, a momentary glance of reevaluation like he is sizing up Su again, and then even a small smile as he relaxes just a little. Is our favourite prince warming up to the Divine Talent a little? Time will tell, I suppose! But this tiny exchange is certainly the closest thing to friendliness that has passed between these two so far, and contrasted with that flashback it's like a punch to the gut. Also, the MUSIC. The Sad Music is playing again, but it's being played by a flute or whistle or something instead of the deep strings that usually play it, so it feels tremulous and hopeful instead of melancholic and that makes it even worse and also sooooo much better. Once again, I take a moment to rage at how this OST isn't available to buy anywhere that I can find.

Anyway, they get to the study and it's very sweet how Jing notices Su looks unwell and inquires after his comfort and calls for one of his men to bring in more braziers to heat the room when Su says he is cold because remember Jing doesn't even LIKE Su. He is just a Good Boy. He also congratulates Su on his recent move, because apparently Mu Qing is a gossip and told Jing all about it, ahaha. Su tells Jing the reason for his visit is to express goodwill on behalf of Prince Yu: Jing will now be able to run the trial of the Duke of Qing without any difficulties. Okay, but that is what I was going to do anyway, says Jing, because of course he does. Su wryly asks whether Minister Qi had been helpful? It doesn't matter if he has, Jing responds, stubbornly unfazed. Whether he cooperates or not the case will still be tried the way it should be. He is so totally out of his depth, bless his heart. Su looks so--not happy, but lighter. Jing's unshakeable, forthright virtue must be so refreshing. The contrast between his demeanor in this conversation and his frayed-thin, irritable behavior the previous day is very obvious.

Meanwhile, Ting Sheng is proudly giving Fei Liu a tour of his new home. They go to the military training ground, where Ting Sheng says he spends most of his time. Sometimes even Prince Jing himself comes to train him, he says, and ugh that is the cutest mental image ever. Fei Liu snorts: Jing is a poor fighter, he tells his erstwhile student, in a tone that implies he thinks Ting Sheng deserves better, and Ting Sheng doesn't even defend Jing, he just grins in agreement because if Fei Liu says it then it MUST be true. I adore these kids' friendship and pray nothing bad happens to them in future. It's weird and cute and sort of sad seeing how simple their lives are, largely oblivious to all the machinations all around them and even involving them.

Li Gang, however, tries to hush Fei Liu and remind him to be respectful, and Fei Liu of course responds by elaborating: even General Meng is better than Prince Jing! (Somewhere, Meng probably feels suddenly cheerful and doesn't know why.) Li Gang tries to do more damage control, so Fei Liu continues on: I'm the best, he says. It isn't even bragging, he just says it like it is the obvious truth. One of Jing's commanders overhears this and looks very annoyed by it, to put it mildly. Uh, oh.

Back in Jing's study, Mei Chang Su is quizzing him about how he views the case. Jing lays out how he has examined the evidence and it's simple in his eyes: the Duke is obviously guilty. Su plays a sort of game with Jing by playing devil's advocate and tossing a variety of excuses and loopholes at him and Jing manages to thwart them all: the Duke is guilty, and justice will be served. Su is impressed and very proud of his (former????) friend. Then Su lays out some BRILLIANT advice to Jing: basically, Jing is going to continue to judge over cases that involve wealthy landowners, right? And a lot of them will be guilty of the same crimes as the Duke. But Su says Jing should be careful not to punish them all the same way, even if their criems are the same. Why? Because if they were all punished the same, they would feel commonly wronged by the Emperor and might form an alliance against him, united by a shared anger. If there is no apparent pattern to the severity of the punishment, however, then the landowners will be jealous of/suspicious of each other, and will be focused more on comparing their lot with that of their neighbors', and they will not be unified. BRILLIANT, I SAY. Jing agrees with the wisdom in this plan. Su recommends he lets off some of Yu's guilty allies lightly as a way of saying thanks to Yu for his support. Jing frowns: Yu should be fighting to save the Duke of Qing right now. Why is he instead helping Jing take down his own ally? You are now very important to him, Su smiles, slightly sarcastically. Jing mulls this over. This is all thanks to you, he tells Su. And he should thank him, but . . . Jing does not want people to think that he is friends with or supporting Prince Yu. He doesn't want to side with either of his terrible brothers. Su tries to assure him that people will understand, but Jing is not appeased.

What others might think is not my concern, he clarifies. However, the spirits of heroes still linger. I don't want them to think that I have finally surrendered to the others.

Su tries to comfort him: Since they were once heroes, they will know who you truly are. Jing does not look convinced in the slightest. HOW has he survived all these years surrounded by enemies and ghosts, never able to forget either?

Su stands up and paces the room a little to try to ease some stiffness and numbness in his legs, and then he approaches a bow that is displayed on its own plinth in the room and this is it, even after the flashback, THIS is the moment of this episode that kills me. Because immediately my whole brain is just OMG THAT MUST BE LIN SHU'S BOW FREAKING JING HAS KEPT IT ALL THIS TIME

Su reaches out to touch it, and Jing, who had been concerned about Su's discomfort because he is a Good Boy, immediately SNAPS at him: Don't touch it! Su freezes. Jing leaps to his feet. Badpoet dies.

Su almost whispers his apology, and Jing approaches him, with a very visible hitch in his breathing as he tries to settle himself after his sudden alarm and impulsive reaction. He looks as though he is fighting down the adrenaline rush of only barely avoiding a tragedy. Perhaps he did. But shaken as he is he also looks a little sorry for yelling harshly at his invalid guest. Jingmum raised him right.

Jing tries to explain, his eyes drawn to the bow almost as if against his will: Please don't take it to heart. This once belonged to my late friend. When he was alive, he never liked to have his belongings touched by strangers. Oh, my gosh, he isn't even so protective of this weapon because it is important or of sentimental value to HIM, it's because Lin Shu hated people touching his stuff, and Jing is a Good Friend, a Best Friend, and Su's face, hidden from Jing, looks like he, like Jing, is remembering for a moment this kid who cared about dumb stuff like that, this kid who was Jing's best friend and who is now dead, who lived a life happy enough that such small things could MATTER to him, and then he swallows hard, and bows to Jing, and apologizes for his rudeness, and this is It I CAN'T I CAN'T WHAT IS THIS SHOW HOW HAS IT MADE ME CARE SO MUCH IN JUST NINE EPISODES HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY DRAG ME DOWn FARTHER IN LIKE FIFTY MORE HOW DID ANy OF YOU WHo HAVE WATCHED THE ENTIRE THING EMERGE BREATHING ON THE OTHER SIDE

(Somewhere there exists a happier timeline where Jing tells Mei Chang Su not to touch the bow because Lin Shu hated strangers touching his stuff and Su says okay and then makes his most trollish eye contact with Jing and deliberately starts touching the bow as much as he dang well pleases and that is how Jing finds out Lin Shu and Mei Chang Su is the same person the end)

Meanwhile, a decent distance away from all this misery and bro-angst, the indignant commander at the training grounds is demanding who Fei Liu is since he thinks he is good enough to insult Jing. I'm Fei Liu, the boy replies, as if that is all the answer necessary, and as it turns out--it is! Another of Jing's men recognizes the name as the fighter who arrived with the Lord of the East Yangtze Alliance. The one who defeated Xia Dong and held his own against Meng! Yep, that's me, Fei Liu affirms. Everyone looks very impressed. We also get a scene with Fei Liu taking out some challengers to show off his skills to Jing's men, best moment being where he grabs two men charging at him by the spers they are wielding and just smashes them onto the ground, aha. He's escalating the situation, basically. I wonder if Su was counting on that to happen.

Also meanwhile, at the palace, Yu and CP are arguing in front of the Emperor about who to make the new Minister of Revenue and oh this levity is SO NEEDED my soul is revived by CP's indignant squeak at Yu and the Emperor's fed up You have been arguing for more than an hour now LOL I swear at least half the Emperor's scenes so far have just been him watching his sons squabble. I would feel bad for the Emperor, except for what he did to Jingmum, so I don't. He deserves this. Also I guess he is also somewhat responsible for whatever ruined Lin Shu's life so he doubly-deserves this. He dismisses the princes, who walk out very quickly after glaring at each other sidelong. I would so not be surprised if the instant they are out of sight they start pulling each other's hair or pinching each other or whatever. They fight like preschoolers.

After they are gone, some random official starts telling the Emperor that the princes had the right to express their opinions like that as the question of who will take the position of Minister of Revenue is a very important and pressing one. The Emperor concedes that point but also angrily indicates the massive stack of names in front of him on his table: he has too many people to choose from! The official says someone named Shen Chui is acting as interim Minister of Revenue so he can hold down the fort for now, don't worry about it. The Emperor suddenly narrows his eyes, interested. Shen Chui? he repeats. Aaaaand--end of episode!

A weird ending, but I remember reading somewhere that these episodes aired two at a time, so with that in mind it makes more sense. I don't know why the Emperor is interested in this name, but I know I will find out next time. In the meantime I'm still reeling from all the Jing and MCS goodness in this episode. I missed Jingyan the last couple episodes but he came back with a vengeance for this one, and I am SO excited for wherever the show is taking him and his weird relationship with Su-who-is-secretly-Shu. Terrified, yes, but also EXCITED. Next episode is episode 10 and I am officially in the double digits! Nine episodes of emotional trauma down, sooooooo many more to go. BRING IT.

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 10 Reaction

At last! Double digits!

Last episode ended with the Emperor pausing to consider a name. Shen Zhui? he asks his minister. Shen Zhui of Princess Qinghe's family? He is the temp Minister of Revenue? Yes, replies his minister. Cut to Mei Chang Su still deep in conversation with Prince Jing; he still looks cold, poor man. He, also, is talking about this Shen Zhui, asking Jing if Jing knows him. You sent me a message that day to spend time in Cumulus Cloud Restaurant, says Jing. How would I dare not to go? Since I went there, how could I not have noticed Shen Zhui?

Shen Zhui is the Vice Minister of Revenue, the department in charge of managing the national treasury. Under Lou Zhi Jing's leadership it has become wholly corrupt (gee, wonder why), and according to Su, this Shen Zhui is the only man he knows of who could turn things around. Jing says he gets along well with Shen Zhui, so that is all well and good, but Shen Zhui also does not support either of the Jerk Princes, so there is no way he will be promoted to Minister of Revenue. Su just smirks. When the snipe and the clam grapple, it is the fisherman who profits, he says, which is just a show-offy way of saying Don't worry, my dude, I got this. In this adage, who is the snipe and who is the clam, I wonder? CP seems more clam-like to me lol. Regardless, we all know who the fisherman is.

The Emperor is meanwhile musing about how he knows Shen Zhui, and the man is apparently a really good worker. Why, if he has already been acting as the temp Minister of Revenue, has he not simply been given the position permanently? He is accomplished, virtuous, and managing well, so what gives, why has no one nominated his name to the Emperor? Aha, says the Emperor, with dawning delight on his face: I have suddenly realized why he has not been suggested to me! It is because he must support neither the Crown Prince nor Prince Yu! And here we really see the damage the Emperor's quarreling sons have done to themselves, because I am pretty sure this neutral (aka pro-Jing) official is about to be promoted on the basis of NOT being allied to either of them, lol. Oh, the irony.

Prince Jing tells Su that Shen Zhui is lucky to benefit from Su's amazing strategy. Oh, Shen Zhui is the lucky one? Okay, Jing, if you want to play it like that. Sure. Su produces a piece of paper from his sleeve because he is literally magic. Or at least that is what I want to believe. He tells a confused Jing that the Emperor will allow Jing to choose three officials to help him run the trial. He has, however, only picked one so far. Thus Su has prepared a list of good names to choose from (since Jing himself admits he has been so long away from the capitol he simply does not know who to pick).

Meanwhile, Shen Zhui himself (I think, since he introduces himself as the director of the Ministry of Justice) has gone to the Information Bureau and is talking with Xia Dong. He tells her he has been sent by Prince Jing to collect any and all evidence the Bureau possesses.

Prince Jing is giving himself airs? Xia Dong asks coldly. He doesn't even show up for such a huge case? And ohhhh, yeah, I am reminded that this woman sort of--more than sort of--hates Jing, because he is a sympathizer towards the people who she (wrongly) holds responsible for her husband's death during The Event™. I foresee this being a big issue just in general in future episodes. But shoot, I like them both, though! It's really frustrating because they are both laser focused on their responsibilities and they both have very strict codes of conduct and morality that they adhere to, so they would be SUCH good allies! As it is, Xia Dong has the potential to be a major obstacle for all Su's scheming. Ugh.

Anyway, Xia Dong chooses to interpret Jing's actions as being insulting towards her Bureau, insulting Shen Zhui himself by saying he is also too minor an official. Shen Zhui assures her that is not Jing's intent: Jing is in charge of the trial and therefore also has to manage three offices involved, and the handling of evidence has always been the Ministry of Justice's duty (which is something you would think Xia Dong would know, but I can't tell if this is a case of for-audience-benefit-only infodumping or if she is deliberately ignoring that. I would like to assume the latter, as this show is usually pretty good about couching infodumping in pertinent and rational character interactions). Shen Zhui also gives as good as he gets, reminding Xia Dong that he is only a half-rank below and anyway the question of his rank is irrelevant since even a junior official, if given the judge's seal, is entitled to collect evidence.

Shen Zhui continues to outsass Xia Dong until she says Well, what if I just don't give you the evidence? Oh, come on, woman, don't be petty. Shen Zhui says that question is moot because she won't refuse the evidence, that would be a move unbefitting of the Intelligence Bureau. True that.

Jing, meanwhile, has read Mei Chang Su's list of names and is smiling a little wryly. Strange, he says. He spoke truly when he said he does not really know people in the six ministries. But he has met a few people seemingly by chance since he came back to the capitol, and bizarrely enough most of those people are on this list! What a raaaaaandom coincidence, Mr. Divine Talent! Su looks a little pleased with himself. Okay, a lot pleased. Su also tells Jing he doesn't have to go out immediately to recruit these people to his side, and when Jing comments that that is an unusual thing for a strategist to say, Su pauses and replies that, well, the sooner Jing builds a group of loyal followers, the sooner Prince Yu and the Crown Prince will recognize him as a threat. Good point. Furthermore, Su says, what is most important isn't the speed of how Jing gathers his group, it is the quality of men these supporters are. If Jing really wants to remain true to himself--something that is obviously very important, we have already seen time and time again--then it will be easiest for both him and Su if the allies he recruits are similarly good people. It will mean less hurting people and less scheming, Su says, as a reminder I think of that promise Jing drew out of him in their previous meeting: that he will hurt as few people as he possibly can on his quest to give Jing the throne.

Jing considers this with that bitter smile he too often gets, and replies that it will be hard for people like that (eg. people who are virtuous/not corrupt/not supported by the Jerk Princes) to reach the top, though. True, Su answers, but he hopes that Prince Jing can help change that, as these people are perfectly capable of running things, all they need is an opportunity.

Your highness can feel at ease to make friends with them sincerely, Su tells Jing. Leave it to me when the time comes to make use of them if needed. Aaaaaand there it is, the sad gut punch feeling. It's back. Jing does not look exactly happy about this, but he does not argue, either. He just looks . . . like he is thinking. Hard.

(In fact, Jing seems constantly thrown off-balance during this conversation, obviously he has his preconceptions about what strategists are like, and therefore what Su is like, and we know he hates that sort of person. But Mei Chang Su keeps surprising him and you can see Jing repeatedly pausing to re-evaluate this man and try to figure him out. And, in last episode as well as in this one, he seems like he is relenting towards him just a teeeeny bit, maybe even unconsciously. You are not going to figure him out, Jing. He doesn't want you to, the self-sacrificing fool.)

We cut to after the Sad Boy meeting has concluded, with Jing and Su walking out side by side. One of Jing's men runs up yelling their names, and I'm immediately like HERE IT IS WHAT HAS FEI LIU DONE. Su looks amused. Jing looks a bit alarmed. All three head towards the training field. Oh, and Jing mentions there is a beast that has been bothering people near the east suburbs, which must be that beast that was mentioned last episode, and I'm so confused because what the heck is this about??? Officials have come to borrow some of Jing's soldiers to help catch it or kill it or whatever. Su asks why this matters, which I agree with (though I will just go ahead and assume he knows exactly what is going on because stuff like this is always his fault anyway), and Jing says the issue is that Zhan Ying (who?) wants to catch the creature alive to find out what it is. Oh, okay. So definitely catch it, then. Huh. Su says if Jing does manage to catch it, make sure to let him take a look because he is curious. Sure, says Jing. Seriously what is going on.

Out at the training grounds, Fei Liu has apparently worked his way up the ranks to duel the commander (Actually I forget his actual rank so I’ll just say commander and if I’m wrong then whatever I just remember he is higher up ish) that was so huffy at him to begin with. I like to think this means he has methodically defeated Jing's entire army bit by bit during the time it took Su to have a chat and drink some tea. They start fighting right when Su and Jing show up to watch, and Fei Liu immediately blocks and catches his opponent's attack but instead of just demolishing him then and there he just holds him still so he can admire his opponent's sword, lollllll he is still a baby troll yet but he is learning from the best. I loved this fight. Super humorous and the emoting of the actors throughout the choreography was great, the kid who plays Fei Liu was maybe the most animated I've seen him play the character so far. Su is enjoying watching: I rarely see Fei Liu enjoy himself this much, he tells Jing. Then the commander flicks a secret switch on his sword that makes it fling a batarang at Fei Liu basically lol but Fei Liu is NOT to be played with and he just catches it out of the air and looks really excited, like he has just found the best toy EVER. Watch out, man, he is totally gonna take your sword home with him.

But then the commander notices Su Zhe is watching, and so he pulls a dirty trick and shoots another small blade--but this time he is aiming at Su, not at Fei Liu. Booooooooooo. All Fei Liu's delight turns to panic in an instant, and he races through the air to catch up with the blade because physics? What physics???? I don't thiiiink he manages to catch it but also I lost track of the blade in the air so idk. I think it just missed. Su is fine, though, didn't even blink, because deep down he's a super awesome warrior with nerves of steel that's why.

Fei Liu whips a look of pure rage towards Jing's oblivious commander, who is laughing heartily as he cheekily calls out to the poor scholar who he thinks he just frightened: Sorry about that, it was a mistake! You must have been shocked, having never seen weapons before since you're just a feeble scholar chap, ohoho! Oh, bro. Bro, nooooo. Su is absolutely stonefaced, as is Jing, and slowwwwwwwly this commander realizes that what he just did wasn't a joke. It wasn't a joke at all. He tries to apologize for real this time, but it is too late. Also Fei Liu was totally going to break his neck but Su stopped him. 

Su icily tells Jing’s man that he doesn't owe Su an apology; he owes one to Jing, his commanding officer who he just shamed with his rash actions and lack of respect. I actually feel sorry for this soldier as he visibly shrinks during this whole scene, he only wanted to defend Jing's honor after all, but by doing so he gave into pride and ended up embarrassing him instead. Poor man. Su is absolutely merciless. It's kind of cool to see him being so relentless because usually he plays coy in his interactions with people. But I still feel bad for the commander because he obviously loves Jing, he was just sort of an idiot about it.

I have long looked up to Your Highness' disciplining of the army, Su tells a VERY upset-looking Jing, but I am greatly disappointed by what I have witnessed today. Army discipline is so lax. How could they be favoured by His Majesty? It seems that Your Highness' presence in the army isn't even that of a pugilistic lord like me.

Jing's general legit looks like he is about to cry by this point. He drops to his knees and begs for Jing to punish him, poor man. This has been eye-opening for me, Su tells Jing, and then he swans out like the troll he is. Su, shut upppp, they get it already. Fei Liu goes with him. I feel really bad for Ting Sheng who is still standing there just watching this all go down lol I hope he doesn’t feel any of it is his fault.

That guy who first told Jing and Su something was happening on the training grounds tries to intervene on the shamed general's behalf, telling Jing to calm down and not be so furious, because the men realize what they have done wrong. Heck yeah they do, Lin Shu chewed them out good. But he also sort of set them up so idk.

But Jing will NOT be calmed down. He is livid. Qi Meng disregarded military regulations and offended his superior, he says. He is to be beaten 50 strokes and demoted to centurion. DUDE, that is harsh. And then he storms away, with cute little Ting Sheng running after him like a puppy. I kind of want more scenes of the two of them together because I bet they would be adorable, I don't think we have ever seen Jing and Ting Sheng alone together yet? Poor Jing, what a bad day. First he embarrassed himself in front of the Divine Talent by yelling at him about touching the bow, and now he embarrassed himself further via his army misbehaving. Don't beat yourself up, Jing, you're trying. Why do you even care what Mei Chang Su thinks of you, anyway, hm? HMMMMMM???

Cut to some time later, probably the next day or so? Jing is receiving the official Imperial orders to judge the Duke of Qing's case. He is still accompanied by that soldier of his that we have seen a few times now, with the fabulous orange collar to his armor, but I don't know the guy's name, or at least don't remember? Jing has him call out the name of all the officials who are to help with the case, but they are all lower officers and he deliberately snubs Minister Qi, Yu's ally in the Ministry of Justice, by not naming him ahahaha. Qi looks outraged, but has to try to play nice because Yu told him to, remember. Ah, delicious. Furthermore, Jing is going to hold the actual trial in the Ministry of Justice. He knows exactly what he is doing. But he also doesn't look very happy about it; I can't imagine he is having much fun with this job.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhui has been officially called to audience with the Emperor, so he IS getting that job! Crown Prince isn't happy about it, complaining to the Marquis that Shen Zhui has been remarkably lucky, and that he guesses he has been too argumentative with Yu lately, since the Emperor went out of his way to pick someone neutral for the position. The Marquis muses in his slow and creepy way that yes, that is true, but also points out how Yu and CP's losses have been equally balanced (like we went over last ep). The Marquis is DANGEROUS, guys.

CP is surprised to hear this, but then admits that come to think of it Yu was uncharacteristically okay with throwing his ally under the bus, so to speak; it was strange that he didn't fight to save the Duke. He stops, eyes widening. Why do I think that it's Mei Chang Su who came up with this idea? he exclaims in rising anger. Oh CP, you are so obsessed with our MCS. He turns on the Marquis: Frankly speaking, why can't you even get rid of a frail and delicate man? LOL AIN'T THAT THE QUESTION.

Marquis finally lifts his gaze to look at CP. He tells CP that Su might be frail, but he is always surrounded by incredibly skilled warriors, so they haven't been able to get to him. Seriously, how many of his men has he lost to Fei Liu and the other guards Su has by now? CP is not appeased: Don't we have our own men in the pugilistic world?

Your Highness, the Marquis says, very flatly, Tian Quan Manor and East Yangtze Alliance are not quite exactly of the same status. Understatement of the year.

You see? Frets CP. This is also what makes me inferior to Yu. He has the East Yangtze Alliance and I only have Tian Quan Manor. The Marquis looks like he is deeeeeply considering something, and he certainly doesn't look happy to hear this, but I wonder if he suspects that Su is just playing Yu. He does seem suspicious, anyway. He is too smart.

And now we cut to . . . a farmer pulling a vegetable cart through the city streets? Eh? But lo and behold--the farmer is actually one of Su's men in disguise, a guy named Tong Lu. He goes undercover to Su's mansion and drops to his knees before our boy in utmost reverence. I love how everyone in the Alliance just absolutely worships Su??? It's so cute???? But also, like, relatable

Su tells him to get up and also that Mr. Shisan and I will rely on you to keep us in contact. Oh, cool, so undercover vegetable man is basically a telephone between Su and Shisan, the spymaster at that music house with the weird stalker girl. I remember him. Tong Lu says he won't fail. He'd better not, is all.

In gentler tones, Su informs Tong Lu that Lou Zhi Jing is imprisoned, and will definitely be executed. Write home to your mother to inform her of this news, he says. Tong Lu bows in thanks: You have avenged the death of my younger sister, he says. OH WAS HIS SISTER ONE OF THE MURDER WELL GIRLS? That would certainly explain his loyalty to Su!

Li Gang elaborates: Lou Zhi Jing had the Crown Prince backing him up. If Lord Mei had not made great effort to come up with this plan, those innocent souls would have been buried deep down in the well forever. Su looks sort of happy listening to this; he has done a Good Thing. No matter what Questionable Things he has done and will have to do to see his own vengeance realized, here at least he has done Good.

I guess this also answers my question from earlier about how the heck Su knew about the dead girls in the well! It's very cool when this show ties loose ends like that, it is so smooth about it. Tong Lu says he had not expected Lou Zhi Jing to be taken down so quickly, and Su actually apologizes for taking so long: we had to wait for the right time. I hope that your family won't blame me for doing so. Tong Lu kneels again, almost in tears: on the contrary, he and his family are sooooo grateful. Ugh, okay FINE I guess this was worth tricking Jing Rui and Yu Jin into that corpse well. Maybe. I still wish Su had somehow managed to make Yu the one who fell in and found them instead but I guess that is asking too much of even the Divine Talent, lololol

Cut to Mei Chang Su alone in his study later, poring over those wooden tiles we have seen once before, the ones with all the names of the ministers on them. He looks so TIRED :(

Li Gang comes in: You asked to see me? He says. Su looks up, a little more animated. We have already finished with the Orchid Garden case, he says, and the Metropolitan Government Office must be calm now. It's about time to send Gao Sheng another case, he says, LOL poor Gao Sheng. Su invites Li Gang to flip over a tile, as he has now arranged them all in a line facedown. Hesitantly, with a little impatient prodding from Su, Li Gang does: he has flipped the Ministry of Personnel. PRINCE YU’S Ministry of Personnel, he says, meaningfully. Ok so it seems to me like taking down another one of CP's Ministries would make more sense at this point, since CP is already convinced Su is out to get him and Yu right now thinks Su is on his side, but you do you, Mei Chang Su. You wanted to throw random chance into the mix of all your plotting? Fine, then. Su does look a bit troubled and immediately drops into Deep Thought. ALSO! His hand fidgeting is back again, so I guess that IS a tell for when he is thinking??? After a moment he signals Li Gang, still deep in thought, and tells him to Have Shisan and Gong Yu make some preparations. HMMMMMMM. I don't like getting Gong Yu more involved, she still bothers me for reasons unknown.

Cut to a montage of a couple of courtesan girls putting on their ancient Chinese makeup, which is pretty cool. I've watched a video about this makeup before and I like the lipstick papers. Theres some voiceover that makes it seem like they are out to get someone, and again they are motivated by vengeance. Su has gathered a lot of vengeance-seeking people on his team, which I guess makes sense but it's another level of cool to see how he is managing to give all these other people closure even as he seeks his own. One of the girls' voiceover says their younger brother was killed at the age of thirteen by some rich kid and since they were poor the family never got justice. Qiu Ze is the name of the murderer. Going by Su's track record, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Qiu Ze is about to get into a LOT of trouble.

The scene thus set, we drop back into the action as a new customer arrives at a pleasure house, where the lady in charge is trying to tell him the girls he wants--Xin Liu and Xin Yang, so I guess they are the sisters--are ill and therefore unavailable. Nonsense, this Master He says: If any of his wives or maids were to annoy him he would beat them to death! You want to try him by saying no now? Wow, what a charmer he is. And there is Gong Yu, intercepting him on the stairs seemingly by chance. He is astonished and asks her why she is in this brothel instead of Heavenly Music House. She replies that she was visiting the ill twins. The story the brothel madame was telling him being seemingly confirmed, He gives up on the twins and instead tries to persuade Gong Yu to drink with him. To his shock, she agrees, merely asking him to wait while she changes clothing.

While she changes, Gong Yu chats with the girl helping her. I heard that Miss Xin Liu and Miss Xin Yang were upstairs with Master Qiu right now, the girl says MOST innocently. Exactly, Gong Yu says, ALSO TOTALLY INNOCENTLY. Young Master Qiu is handsome and dashing. He is really compatible with both sisters. I'm so happy for them. The girl helping Gong Yu is like Wow, you must be a saint, saying you are happy for them while you have to put up with that AWFUL Master He, what a loser he is. Oh, yes, it is a trial, Gong Yu agrees, but sisters should help each other, after all. That Young Master He has been vying with Young Master Qiu for years. He thinks too highly of himself. Master Qiu should teach him a lesson. And while these girls are loudly, innocently gossiping, Gong Yu's got the most wonderfully calculating expression, as she keeps looking at the wall where she knows that Master He is eavesdropping and growing more and more enraged. At this point, he storms off, and YUP, HERE WE GO. Gao Sheng, I hope your calendar is clear because I have a Bad Feeling About This.

Sure enough, He grabs his men and starts tearing the brothel apart hunting for Qiu. The sight of him repeatedly busting down the doors of private rooms, yelling It's none of your business! at the startled people inside, and storming to the next one was hilarious to me. Gong Yu silently stalks after him, the only calm person in the entire brothel by this point. Oh, and this is a spectacular set, by the way, there's a few long tracking shots wherein people walk down halls and up stairs and things and so that is pretty cool. We don't get many long tracking shots in this show, so that stood out. How many of these sets did they build specifcally for this show and how many are reused from other productions a la BBC, I wonder? I also wonder about that about costumes. Hm.

Anyways, to get back to the actual plot, He finally smashes into a room where he finds Qiu and the twins who want Qiu dead all sitting together. Well, that does not bode well for either man. As both have been established as being scum of the earth, however, I do not feel very badly for either of them. He charges in and attacks the confused Qiu, and they start brawling while the twins implore them to stop in very convincing distress. At one point they beg He not to fight anymore and not to break anything, and he responds with I'll pay for it! and charges back towards Qiu, which made me laugh. What a loser.

He snatches up a very expensive and heavy-looking vase, and Gong Yu calmly steps into the doorway and flicks a small object of some kind--a disc or something--into the back of Qiu's leg as he tries to stagger up to meet the attack. The result is that Qiu falls down, and the enraged He, seizing his advantage, brings the vase down on He's head so hard the vase shatters. He freezes, shocked--he did not mean to kill Qiu! But that is definitely what he did, as Qiu slumps over with blood running down his face. The twins start screaming about how Master He killed him! and He runs out in a panic as an even greater uproar starts up. Gong Yu makes eye contact with the twins and just nods at them like there you go, and the twins nod back. Justice is done, and Su's plans move forward.

It is morning, and we move to Prince Yu's manor. Ohhhhh, dear. Yu is doing the Ancient Fantasy China version of rushing out of his bedroom with his robe hastily thrown on, asking his servant what on earth is the matter. He finds out soon enough: an old man is kneeling in supplication at his door, crying. This is old Master He, as opposed to young Master He who killed Qiu the night before. Master He instantly starts bawling, wailing almost incoherently about how he only has one heir, his only son, and help him help him help him. I feel sort of sorry for him. But he did raise his son to be a major tool, so you reap what you sow I suppose.

We cut to a little later, and Master He has managed to explain the situation to Yu but he is still crying. To his credit he does admit he raised his son badly, but then he also says that he needs Yu to help save him anyway because he is his only son, and furthermore old Master He's mother adores her grandson and spoils him rotten so if he were to be imprisoned or executed SHE might die of distress as well. Yu is cross. It would be fine if he killed a commoner, he exclaims exasperatedly and WOW, YU, JUST WOW, but he killed Baron Wen Yuan's son! This Baron Wen Yuan is an important man of important lineage and so Yu is saying he cannot cover up the murder. If he did, Baron Wen Yuan would have the right and the connections to report obstruction of justice to the Emperor himself, and no way is Yu about to let that happen to himself. Master He considers this and then just hurries to bow and beg some more (the way Yu is increasingly eager to stop this man begging and sobbing at him is so funny. Every time He starts sobbing Yu is just oh no, not again He can't take it), saying Wen Yuan isn't even a brave man, he probably wouldn't do anything. Oh no? Counters Yu. YOUR SON JUST KILLED HIS SON. That is enough to make even the timidest man wild for justice to be served. Master He, stumped, just starts crying again. He is very pathetic and sad. Also, when Yu tries to calm him by asking What's the hurry, he says Gao Sheng has already sent some men to arrest his son this morning.

Cut to those men standing awkwardly outside of He's manor because no one will let them in, lol. They don't have authority to break in to make the arrest since He is such an important official, so they are just stuck demanding that young He comes out. Which I'm just gonna go ahead and say will NEVER happen. But they keep calling out his arrest warrant VERY loudly and gather quite a crowd of spectators and it is all very uncomfortable.

Yu tells old He to give up his son to be arrested and tried for murder. Wait, what?? He explains that Gao Sheng is not going to want to spend a lot of time on this case (which, from what we know of him, I'm going to say is very true), so if He is cooperative with him instead of trying to make his life difficult, he will be grateful to He and close the case quickly. Meanwhile, Yu's team can make sure there is enough confusion of evidence and such that the closed case will be transferred to the Ministry of Justice for review, where of course Yu's ally Minister Qi holds power! And in the review process Qi can throw out the case or acquit or whatever. Problem solved. This was very intereresting, it reinforces the impression I have that Yu is more dangerous to play with than CP is; the Marquis might have come up with a similar long con plan to save He's son but there is no way under heaven that CP would have. Nope. Also such a patient plan with chess-like foresight reminds me of our Divine Talent's plotting, so you just KNOW he is aware this is what Yu should do, so I'm sure he has a contingency to sink their boat anyway. I just wonder what it is!

So Gao Sheng gets the report that He Wen Xin--young He--has in fact been arrested. Gao Sheng is not cheered by this, as he complains what is he supposed to do about this case? He only barely extricated himself from the case involving Lou Zhi Jing, one of CP's biggest supporters, and now he has to deal with a murder case involving the son of He Jing Zhong, one of Yu's important allies? Poor Gao Sheng, he just can't win! I have already offended the two most powerful princes in a row with two big cases, Gao Sheng says glumly. It seems that I might not stay Metropolitan Governer for long. His officer tries to tell him to cheer up beause New Year is soon and maybe his new year wiill be nicer. Yeah, I doubt it. Gao Sheng is not impressed by this attempt at comfort.

We now have a time jump! It is a few weeks later and dead Qiu's dad is hounding Minister Qi about why hasn't He Wen Xin been punished yet??? Qi tries to make the excuse that there is still a lot of paperwork for the Duke of Qing case, so they are trying to move as fast as they can on He's trial but they are unavoidably delayed. Wen Yuan is NOT having it. He immediately counters with how they somehow managed to close the Orchid Garden case really fast (hey there, Jing the efficient judge) and that was a very complicated and old case, but somehow this straightforward murder case with many witnesses from only a few weeks ago is taking them forever? It makes no sense. Qi blusters some nonsense about um your son's case isn't simple either bye and scuttles away as fast as he can, leaving behind a very irate baron.

Cut to: Mei Chang Su, looking as handsome as ever in his blue toned robes! He is being visited by the Good Boy Duo, Yu Jin and Jing Rui! YAYY WELCOME BACK BOYS. Yu Jin is admiring the zither in Su's room, while Jing Rui is pacing back and forth in the courtyard. He is clearly still very upset about the whole assassination attempt thing. Also Su is watching Jing Rui pace and I can't decide why but it makes me worry. Does he feel guilty, or is he just bracing for step two of whatever plan he has for Jing Rui?

Su suddenly asks Yu Jin Has Jing Rui been sulky lately? Yu Jin, usually so smiley, sobers a little as he comes to sit with Su. Yes, he has, he admits. And Jing Rui hasn't been able to get out to take his mind off whatever is bothering him because it is so cold and snowy. Oh, but that reminds him! Su, it is perfect weather for hot springs, do you wanna go? The best one belongs to Prince Supreme Ji. (Prince Supreme--so this means Ji is brother to the Emperor?) Anyway Prince Supreme told Yu Jin to come with friends whenever he likes, so Yu Jin is extending an invitation to Su because he is the Sweetest Soul. Su declines, but has some questions about the Prince Supreme. Is Ji the Emperor's youngest brother and uncle to the princes? That's him! Yu Jin says brightly. Oh cool, so I was right, he is a brother to the Emperor. Su looks amused while he listens to Yu Jin's analysis of Prince Supreme Ji's character. Brother Su, you really should get to know him, Yu Jin says cheerfully. Su just smiles.

Meanwhile, Jing has been summoned to the Emperor, along with the officials he had help him with the Duke of Qing's case. Jing tells his father that the case is concluded, wanting only the Emperor's final verdict. The findings are handed over: Jing has found the Duke and all accused guilty and they are to be executed, their properties confiscated, and their family lines basically ended. The Emperor reads through the report and is very impressed: *Who wrote this?* The director of the Ministry of Justice, Cai Quan, Jing replies.Cai Quan bows, and the Emperor compliments his work. Jingyan, you have also done quite well, the Emperor says, leaning forward: Aim to finish on a steady note. What is this??? Actual praise????? From the EMPEROR???? For JING????? Su's plans have just inched forward a bit. Prince Yu, who has been standing by and watching, chimes in to say Yep, good work Jing, great handling of the case! Jing doesn't even look at him, but the Emperor is pleased. You too have acted very maturely, he tells Yu. Among all my sons you are the most prudent one who places general interests first and oh come ON you have GOT to be joking. Yu? The most unselfish and the one who places general interests first? This Emperor is literally blind. He asks Yu if reports that Yu helped Jing with the trial are true? Well, Yu says oh so modestly, I was worried he was unused to working with the Ministry of Justice, so I helped him a bit, yes. You are such a saint, says this stupid Emperor, and then he gives freaking YU a load of gifts again JUST like when he stole Jing's credit for saving Ni Huang you guyyyyysssssss I'm so mad. This whole scene the camera keeps cutting to show Jing impassively watching this and it just isn't FAIR lol. But that is why we need Mei Chang Su. Jing really would be helpless on his own, scenes like this make it very obvious.

Yu makes a massive bow of thanks and Cai Quan steps forward looking like he wants to protest about how unfair this is, but a sharp look from Jing has him stepping back, looking unhappy but silent. And just like that, I love Cai Quan. Also just LOOK at Yu's robe, my gosh, he and Jing always have my favorite costumes and the gold embroidery on Yu's sleeves is out of this world beautiful. He is such a peacock.

As Jing and his team leave the palace, Cai Quan finally can speak his mind. He complains about how Jing worked hard day and night and concluded the case perfectly, and yet all he got was faint praise while Yu was showered with gifts and all he did was not meddle in [the case] LOL

Forget it, Jing says. It has always been so. Why bother getting angry? The inherent nobility of such an answer, as well as the blatant evidence of the unfair Imperial bias against Jing, is definitely going to leave an impression on Jing's team of officials here. Jing has just won some friends, whether or not he knows it. Su is so clever.

Jingyan! Wait! comes a call from back up the stairs. Oh great, it is Yu. He runs with mincing little steps down the stairs (and bravo to the actor for managing to run at all in those skirts, a fall would HURT and it looks very difficult lol) to meet Jing, who turns to meet him with a very longsuffering air. Yu is all smiles, almost puppyish in his eagerness to seize on the moment and work on befriending Jing like Su told him to LOL. Hey, don't be bothered by what happened, the Emperor totally means to give you presents AFTER the case is officially closed, is all, he tells Jing. And after a moment of slightly uncomfortable silence: Oh, and I didn't deserve the presents I got, either, I did nothing. Why don't I send the Emperor's gifts over to your manor instead? Jing's expression as he watches this fawning display is cold, cold, cold amusement. You're too polite, brother, he says. I only specialize in war. I have no need for those items. Surely my sisters-in-law would like them? Yu counters. Um, says Jing, I have only one wife, so nah. Now is there anything else you want to say or can I go?

I LOVE this. It is sooooo nice to see Jing have the upper hand in a conversation for once. Also! The camerawork! This talk is shot with the red carpet on the stairs cutting diagonally across the screen so Jing in his pale robe is backed by the stone steps, and peacock Yu in his ostentatious red and gold is backed by the royal red carpet. GORGEOUS. It's the pugilist vs the politician represented both in the characters and in their surroundings. I love it so much.

Yu looks a bit frustrated but rallies. Yeah, hey, since we are talking, I want to remind you about my New Year's party at my manor! You should come this year, instead of staying away like you always do! And Jing raises one of his perfect, perfect eyebrows: You invited me? he says, sarcasm absolutely dripping from his tone and expression. Ahaaahahahaha. Yu valiantly tries to cover: whaaaat, you never receieved your invitations? Wow, my servants are so inept. Wow. I’ll have to punish them for not delivering your definitely real invitations. How about this: I will deliver your invitation in PERSON this year. Please come, Jing, pleeeeease? Okay, fine, says Jing, and with that he makes his escape. Yu watches him go with an I sure hope all this hassle is worth it, Mei Chang Su look on his face.

Cut to Banruo enjoying some tea while a girl hurries in with news. News about He Wen Xin's brothel murder case. What information have Banruo's spies uncovered???

Cut to Yu Jin and Jing Rui out with Supreme Prince Ji, enjoying some women dancing and women playing musical instruments and women serving them tea and, yknow. All that good stuff. Yu Jin, at least, looks cheerful. Jing Rui still looks very pale and depressed, though he makes an effort to brighten up when Ji brings it up. Oh, poor boy. I love Jing Rui so much, and I know I say that about way too many characters, but it is still true. He is just so good and I want him to be happy and safe. I feel like this is a losing battle I am fighting, but I will keep wanting it anyway and the show will have to prise it from my emotions’ cold, dead fingers.

(Btw, shoutout to that girl who is smiling and gamely massaging one of Ji's arms throughout this entire scene. That would be really hard to keep up for multiple takes, lol, its little details like that and the depth even the extras provide to each scene that is part of why this show is so amazing. The show didn’t NEED a girl massaging his arm there, but her presence is the perfect Show Not Tell insight into Ji’s character. I see you, unsung heroine! Good job)

Ji comes across as jolly, sensual, and generally harmless, but I could be wrong on the last bit. Anyway he likes brothels and pleasure houses and whatever sooooo yay him? Yu Jin mentions how Gong Yu is an unparalleled musician so I guess she is famous. Ji gets melancholy as he remembers the ongoing murder trial about the death at the Willow Heart. Both Xin Liu and Xin Yang won't be able to perform dances anytime soon, he complains, and then he starts crying. Yep, he is a man-baby. And I thiiiiink those were the names of the twins, if I remember correctly.

Oh yes, speaking of that murder trial, says Yu Jin, hurriedly trying to move the conversation along, why hasn't He been sentenced or acquitted yet?? Is he guilty or isn't he?? Oh, he is definitely guilty, says Supreme Prince Ji. I witnessed it with my own eyes!

Yu Jin and Jing Rui look shocked, and that is the end of the episode! This was another setup episode mainly but there was a LOT of set up. I was so happy to see Yu Jin and Jing Rui again, even though I'm still majorly worried about Jing Rui. Missed Meng this episode--and Ni Huang! Where has she gotten to?! And Mu Qing! And basically ALL the women at the palace, and the Princess Supreme . . . UGH so many good characters, I don't even realize any are missing while the episode is playing, but after I am like heyyyy but what about my OTHER faves? I swore I wouldn't get attached, and now look at me. Pathetic.

On the other hand I am DELIGHTED Jing has stepped back into the forefront of the action. His friendship--or, well, partnership anyway but there is a weird tentative friendship mayyyybe starting there however cautiously--with Mei Chang Su has given him a position of power over the oblivious Prince Yu that is just so much fun. May it last a long time. Speaking of that potential friendship between Su and Jing, I'm fascinated to see it progress, because of course it is so imbalanced--Su knows exactly how to befriend Jing so he holds all the cards in their conversations together. As a master manipulator in general he must know how to manipulate his former best friend. But also Jing is a tough cookie. They are both so lonely, but I feel more for Jing's loneliness since at least Su has had an obsession to live for and focus on these past years; Jing has had nothing, and Su did manage to find allies while Jing has lived surrounded by people who hate him or look down on him. Bless Ni Huang for being there for him, I'm sure she has been vital in keeping him alive and sane.

Maybe the coolest thing about this episode, actually, was how it helped explain a little just how Su has gathered such a network of SUPER loyal secret friends. In plotting his own vengeance Su has recruited all these people who also seek impossible vengeance and he is using them and their wants to achieve his own. He is manipulating them like tools in his game, but at the same time he is working so hard to give them what they want, working to the point of exhaustion. He has seemed worryingly worn out these last couple of episodes. It is a very weird blend of compassion and cold self-interest, and ugh I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. I do beliieve, especially with this evidence, that he honestly does not want to use innocent people to hurt them. I just don't know if that is enough to save Jing Rui. Well, actually, all signs point to it definitely NOT being enough. Why, *Nirvana in Fire*, why.

Next up is episode 11! I can't WAIT to see how Su continues to ruin lives. And I also want Ni Huang back. And more Jing! Never leave me again, eyebrow prince.

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 7 Reaction

TA-DA, I HAVE RETURNED! I know, I know, it’s been such a long time, y’all thought I was dead, but nope! I’m just back with a different face and a different name and a quest to make your life miserable aka this is the episode with That Househunting Scene. Lord have mercy on my feels.

Before we get started, I apologize in advance because this is going to be a bit more rushed than previous recaps. I’ve been so busy during these last few months of the year, it has made it very difficult to find any time where I can just sit and watch NiF while also taking notes/writing. I can’t watch it while I do other things, like I tend to do with most dramas I watch; NiF requires full attention and especially when one is writing a reaction/recap post! So for the sake of my sanity (because I AM DYING TO KEEP WATCHING THIS HORRIBLE WONDERFUL MASTERPIECE) I am going to try to go a little faster through the next few episodes, at least up to where I left off when I decided to go back and write these reactions for y’all (which I thiiiiiink was around episode 16?), and then since I’ll be caught up to uncharted territory I’ll get more in-depth again and hopefully my life will be less crazily busy, too!

Okay, so without further ado: EPISODE SEVEN.

Where were we? Oh yeah, Xia Dong was being amazing and interrogating a would-be assassin with the best sort of combination of cold callousness and sadistic pleasure. She’s terrifying, but also so very cool. The Good Boys are standing by watching with varying degrees of discomfort at the torture happening in front of them, but while they seem to believe the bombshell dropped at the end of last episode—that Prince Yu is the one who sent the assassins—Xia Dong is totally unimpressed by the lie. Ha, she says, I already lost Yu’s men ages ago. Try again, she sneers. Let me take a moment to say that taking this time away from the show has given me a newly recharged appreciation for just how beautiful Jing Rui is, especially in that particular shade of royal blue. It’s so nice.

The assassin looks like he actually might tell the truth this time, because Xia Dong is That Scary, but suddenly—arrows, arrows everywhere! Our trio have blessedly quick reflexes and reaction time and fling themselves into various twirls and flips to escape the arrows, but the assassin is not so lucky. When the arrows stop flying and Xia Dong returns to her captive she discovers an arrow is lodged neatly in his voicebox. Nope, that’s not suspicious at ALL. Xia Dong swears in frustration and Yu Jin is briefly brave long enough to say she shouldn’t swear (but then when she turns that glare on him he just sort of melts into this apologetic puddle of terror that hastily hides behind poor Jing Rui, and have I mentioned that I love these boys? It’s been like two months since my last episode watch and that love has not lessened). Xia Dong looks like she’s seriously considering at least slapping Yu Jin, but she decides to let his impertinence slide and all three return to the capitol.

Now we cut to Ni Huang’s lil brother, Mu I remember his name being? He’s wearing a most magnificent red outfit, I can’t stop noticing all the costumes this episode, I guess it’s been so long I was having withdrawals or something. THEY’RE SO PRETTY. He’s arrived at the Marquis’ place but when the door guard tells him to wait, he just brushes that off with Nah, I’m just here to see Su! Mu is so refreshingly informal in all his dealings, I think it’s a combination of showing how very young and sort of callow he is but also there’s that divide again between the straightforward and honorable nature of those from the martial world and the skeevy snakeishness of those involved in politics. He’s just so open, and cheerful when he isn’t breaking Sima Lei’s legs. I guess he was cheerful about doing that too, though, in a sense. Also, his expressions are just the cutest. The Marquis’ wife comes out to greet him, and he complains that she calls him young but also thanks her for saving Ni Huang. She doesn’t seem to want to dwell on that and asks him why he’s visiting and he repeats he just wants to see Su—To show Su some houses, in fact. The Princess Supreme looks oddly sad about this? Is it just because she liked having an ally she could trust around the place, or what?

When Mu does meet with Mei Chang Su, Su tells him that he isn’t really in a hurry to move out. Fei Liu is very intently arranging flowers while the other two talk, which is very cute. Mu insists, and then makes the mistake of grabbing Su by the wrist and starting to drag him along, all the while nattering about this househunting project. Immediately, Fei Liu’s hackles are raised and he launches at poor Mu, lifting him OFF THE GROUND AND OVER HIS HEAD WITH ONE HAND and just welcome back into my life, Fei Liu. And I hope the following exchange is as funny in the actual dialogue as it is in subs, but in the sub at least Su tells Fei Liu to “put him down quickly” and Fei Liu immediately gets ready to seemingly slam Mu into the ground, so Su has to immediately follow up with “put him down slowly,” which, ahaha. Fei Liu is grumpy, but Mu’s life is thus saved and he is not daunted at all, instead just being very impressed. To avoid further drama, Su agrees to look at some houses.

In the city streets, Xia Dong parts ways with the Boys. Jing Rui really tries hard to stay with her, because he’s so worried for her safety, bless him. Yu Jin intervenes and convinces his friend to come away, probably partially because he’s happy for an excuse to get away from Xia Dong, but based on the acting I’d say he’s also being his usual perceptive self and realizes that she wants them to leave her for a Reason. The Reason is that she’s being followed. I don’t recognize the face of the guy following her? I am guessing he is an Actual Character though, otherwise the camera wouldn’t have lingered so long.

Meanwhile, Prince Yu is breaking pottery because he’s throwing a tantrum. He’s finally found out that Xie Yu, aka the Marquis, is playing both sides of the political game, pretending to support only Yu while also secretly helping the Crown Prince. He’s in trouble.

Back to Mei Chang Su, he’s being led by a Mu who is so enthusiastic about the househunting, he’s actually bouncing up and down. HE’S SO CUTE. PROTECT HIM. His enthusiasm is explained when they turn a corner and: dun dun duuuuun there’s Ni Huang, looking stunning as usual. Oh, you clever boy, Mu. Look at him smiling at his ship. Ni Huang has a total “gotcha” face on, and Su’s expression just says “oh nooooo.” Outplayed by a kid, wow, Su.

In the next scene Mu has mysteriously vanished and our favourite doomed ship is walking together. She tries to thank him for saving her, he says it was his mistake that put her in danger to begin with, she counters that no man is infallible, and you can totally tell he’s thinking BUT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE. He warns her not to trust him, a man she has only met a few times, but she says she feels like she’s known him a long time and trusts he would never harm her intentionally. AHA. NI HUANG IS MAKING HER MOVE. He tries to jokingly put her off by saying wow he wishes other people felt that way, and immediately she’s like “Jing Yan is mad at you, isn’t he” which, LOL. She basically says Oh, you know how Jing is, he can’t keep his mouth shut, just ignore him, and Su neatly counters with “How could I know what Jing is like?” He walks away looking like a man who just scored a point, and yep, she’s totally trying to trap him. It’s a battle of minds, and ugh they’re so perfect for each other! Her smile and then slow thoughtful look when he makes that dodge, aaaahh.

We cut back to the Emperor where he’s all pissy because Ni Huang apparently effortlessly defeated all her suitors, so that whole subplot just died a quiet offscreen death, lol. Then she handed in a report to state her wrongdoing, he complains to his eunuch buddy, and ahahaha I love Ni Huang. The Emperor says that even though Ni Huang managed to avoid marriage yet again, she cannot be allowed to leave the capitol to go back to the battlefield like he’s let her before.

Ni Huang is still showing Su around a variety of houses. They look so cute walking togetherrrrr. But also he’s wearing his furs so they barely even cover his shoulders, and while that’s a nice aesthetic, that can’t really be helping against the cold at all. MCS, staaaahp. He tries to tell her he doesn’t want to bother her with this househunting nonsense, but she insists it’s no trouble and then suggests he go a certain way that he CLEARLY does not want to go. Immediately I was like oh nooooooo because I could just tell something awful was coming. Ni Huang, what have you done. They stare at each other for a long, long while, and it’s like she’s daring him to refuse, because that will prove his identity, and he knows that, but also he doesn’t wanna but in the end of course he has to follow her. He walks like he’s being led to the gallows or some similarly deadly place. And then she stops and behind her is an obviously huge but abandoned house, and I started screaming inside because I knew it I knew it Ni Huang whyyyyyyy why would you do this to us

Do you know what this place is? She asks. No, Su replies, carefully not looking at it. Ugh, my poor boy. She tells him this particular manor belonged to the Commander of the Blaze Army. I used to play here very often as a child, she tells him (My aside: NOOOOOOOOOOO), and then she invites him on a stroll inside its ruins. Oh, she’s being so mean. And he deserves it, for what he’s doing to her, but still. Mean. And she is watching him like a hawk.

After a beat Su manages to counter that surely they can’t just casually walk inside if it’s the former residence of traitors? Ni Huang tells him that it’s true this house should have technically been seized by the Emperor and so belongs to him, but the Emperor has ignored it all these years. He never did anything to it. He seems to be waiting, she says, her gaze lingering over those sad, empty walls. Perhaps one day it will just disappear.

No, I’m not crying. Or if I am, it’s because That Music is back and it’s not fair, I am powerless against That Music. It will forever be the Grandma Scene music to me, aka the moment this show revealed itself as the emotional hell it truly is.

And the double meaning of this entire conversation is just SO. GOOD:

MCS: Since it’s been dilapidated for years there probably isn’t any trace of its past splendor left. Why would Your Highness insist on reminding yourself of the past?

Ni Huang: People left. The house is empty. Things changed with the passing of the years. But it doesn’t mean that everything has vanished. (Turns to face MCS, and then:) Whatever remains still lingers. Some people, some matters, still stay deep in one’s mind. Time will not wipe away their traces.

MCS (looking like he’s gonna cry, let’s be real): Your Highness values friendship and loyalty greatly. However, this case still weighs heavily on the Imperial Court. It still remains in the limelight. I advise Your Highness not to linger around this place much longer.

And I’m both gleeful and utterly devastated about how GOOD this whole scene is, my gosh. Because yeah, suuuuuuure they’re just talking about the house. They aren’t talking about Lin Shu at ALLLLLLLL.

(Gah, I love this show.)

Ni Huang looks devastated. This whole conversation is so close to the surface, to them speaking plainly to each other, and yet she’s so stymied by how he refuses to reveal himself! You can tell she was hoping so, so much to finally get her answer here, and yet he’s still refusing to give her that answer she wants, the one she knows deep down is the truth. In response to his advice she walks up those old, broken steps, and looks DOWN on him (eeeeee this showwww), now plainly asking him to take a look inside.

(He doesn’t want to look inside, Ni Huang. He doesn’t want to see Lin Shu again, not when he has to be Mei Chang Su. He can’t want to take that look with you. Hi, I’m dead.)

Still refusing to look at the house, staring at the ground, he refuses once more, bows, and walks away. That blasted music, that glorious music, is still going because this show has no pity. AND THEN HE STARTS CRYING AND I’M LIKE NI HUANG DON’T JUST STAND THERE RUN AND CATCH UP AND STARE HIM IN THE FACE like it’d ruin the moment but you’d get your answers, dangitttt

And we flashback to him falling off that cliff again and then it cuts to a shot of Su walking away and in the foreground is a cobweb covering his image and ooh, artsy.

Next scene is Jing Rui and his brother (Xie Bi, or something like that? Augh, it’s been so long, I’m probably getting a lot of side character’s names wrong) and Jing Rui is trying to cheer his brother up because he’s just nice like that. Arguably the nicest. His brother is upset because after two years of his father telling him to work for Prince Yu, his father’s now told him to stop helping Yu because he actually supports the Crown Prince. He feels very used and unhappy. Jing Rui, meanwhile, is absolutely rattled, even horrorstruck. He thought his dad wasn’t into politics, remember? Yeah, so much for that. I have the horrible sinking feeling it’s just going to get worse for him from here.

Back at the Snow Cottage, Fei Liu is building a fire for his Su and it’s very adorable. I want so many more scenes of just these two, especially after reading the novel chapters that I did before I started venturing into spoiler territory and stopped (they’re so huggy in the novel, bless them). Su tells Fei Liu that he’s getting all this real estate mail, basically, and doesn’t that show that there are still nice people in the capitol? NOT AT ALL, says Fei Liu, and Su just smirks. These two. I love them. Su is the worst role model.

Su tells Fei Liu to take a look at a house called the Orchid Garden and if Fei Liu likes it, Su will buy it. The power this kid has. Suddenly Fei Liu senses someone and flies outside where he sees Xia Dong standing there! Fei Liu being Fei Liu and Xia Dong being Xia Dong, they immediately have a spectacular fight. Su shows up to stop it and shows that he knows Xia Dong is injured, and he asks what she’s doing there.

Back at the palace, the Bickering Brothers are at it again. The best part is where Yu shakes his finger in the Crown Prince’s face and the Crown Prince makes this angry little squeaky sound and bats it away, ahahahaha. These actors are superb, as I keep saying (because they keep impressing me in scene after scene). Yu tries to be like Hey, why aren’t you secluded and studying like you’re supposed to be doing, since you’re being punished for Ni Huang and all, but the Crown Prince retorts that he wasn’t banned from court affairs, and are you implying you want me out of court for good???? SHUT UP, says the Emperor. He has less and less patience with each scene they share, lol. He tells them he knows they are squabbling because they each want to judge over the Duke of Qing’s case. Remember him? Yeah. The Emperor tells them he can’t pick either of them because Yu of course would let the Duke get away with any crime (the Duke is his powerful ally, remember!) and the Crown Prince would use any excuse to destroy the Duke’s entire family and thereby eliminate a powerful foe. “Father”, they both try, and SHUT UP, he cuts them off. Man, I’m almost liking the Emperor again.

Xia Dong meanwhile is in audience with Su. She tells him she’s just been curious about him, as he’s the talk of the town and seemingly has many faces. She’s worried. What about? Ni Huang.

(Augh, says Su’s face, Why is it always Ni Huang)

Why on earth are you worried about Ni Huang? She’s a powerful military leader and all, he says. Xia Dong says the rumor is Ni Huang defied the Emperor and refused marriage because of Mei Chang Su. OHO IS THAT THE RUMOR? Nice. Su says they’re just friends, he’s not trying to court Ni Huang. Xia Dong is not appeased, and directly asks: Does he only want friendship? Su thinks a moment, then says well, he has to admit Ni Huang is radiant (oh, you) and of course he can’t help but admire her, but also he’s sick, he’s not long for the world, he has deliberately remained unmarried so as not to burden anyone.

Her Highness has always been quite clear-minded, he says. She’s like a light breeze and a bright moon. Who would be good enough for her if not a man of great passion and outstanding ambition?

Uh, Mei Chang Su? Your Lin Shu is showing again. Xia Dong looks a little taken aback.

The Emperor is complaining to his eunuch friend again but this time our mustached fave General Meng is there too! Yay! The Emperor is angry that his sons continue to squabble so immaturely even though the Duke of Qing’s case is a matter of national importance. Meng reminds him that be that as it may, a prince still needs to be in charge of any investigation and trial. Hmmmmmmm, I sense Su’s hand in this …

Yep, the Emperor suddenly brightens. Oh yeah, he says, a prince does have to preside over the case but it doesn’t have to be one of those two! Isn’t Jing Yan still around? He’s so stubborn, he’d be perfect! Cool, let’s put Jing in charge! He walks off feeling delighted with himself. I am once again left in awe of Su and his manipulation skills. I’m assuming this is the first step of a long game to make Jing gain favor in the palace.

Xia Dong meanwhile brings up the time Su helped Ni Huang defeat those enemies a few years back. She asks why he bothered since his land wasn’t particularly nearby? He gets all mad and offended that she apparently feels the need to question why he would help defend his country, and she backs off. I can’t decide how much of that anger was just show; I think that he really was upset by that implication. Xia Dong leaves with a good opinion of Su, which is good because if I remember aright she hates Jing for his support for Lin Shu’s family, so if she knew who Su really was? Yeahhhhh, big trouble would follow. Also she’s a master spy, so way to dodge a bullet there, Su. For now, anyway.

Outside, the Marquis is hiding and spying himself, but Xia Dong calls him out and his awkward popping out from behind that doorframe was very funny. She basically tells him she knows all about his political gaming and how he set up the whole Duke of Qing thing but also she is not going to tell on him. She says she will keep his secret because her husband, Nie Feng, died during that Blaze Army rebellion and it was the Marqius who brought “half his corpse” home to her. Thus, she feels like she owes him. Oh, eww. Also we know Lin Shu’s dad was NOT a traitor and it was all a set up, so what are the odds that the Marquis was also the one who was responsible for turning her husband into half a corpse? Pretty freaking high, I’d say.

She seems angered that the Marquis has clearly forgotten that massive favor he did her, so she tells him in keeping his secret she considers her debt paid and they are now even. Then she just walks off, cool as you like, leaving behind a very worried-looking Marquis.

Cut to: Mei Chang Su, back in his inefficient furs and out on the town with the Good Boys! Actually they’re in the courtyard of a horrible old dump of a house. For a second I was like wait did he buy his family’s old house because surely the Emperor would put a stop to that? But no, it seems like this is the Orchid Garden place he mentioned to Fei Liu earlier. Yu Jin is hilariously disapproving, hands on hips and everything, and chides Su for being a fool for buying the place without seeing it first. Su says Fei Liu liked it, though! Cue Fei Liu literally flying overhead, looking very pleased with himself. Yu Jin is not impressed. Su indulges in a little trollface.

The three walk through the manor together, and Yu Jin starts being like, well, the layout is okay I guess, we can fix it up into a livable place I guess, but yeah it does look amazingly overgrown. But then Yu Jin suddenly disappears into the ground, so apparently there’s big ol’ holes in the property, too? What are you playing at, Mei Chang Su.

Jing Rui dashes over to help his friend, and pulls him out of what is actually a dried up well. Yu Jin comments that it’s lucky he’s so skilled and so was able to catch onto the lip of the well to avoid falling all the way in, and Jing Rui agrees. If it had been Su, he says, the poor strategist would have fallen all the way to the bottom. Which, ouch. I mean, that might be true, I don’t know if Su’s frailty is all 100% genuine (I’d say it’s at least 70% genuine) or if he still has the sort of reflexes a warrior would, but obviously we are supposed to assume that in his happy youth before all the bad stuff happened he would have had no problem with avoiding a fall down a dry well. Anyway, the boys clown a bit and Fei Liu shows up. Yu Jin complains that the manor is creepy and suggests they leave. As they walk, however, Yu Jin realizes that he’s missing some pendant or something that belonged to his grandfather and is really important to him. Could it have fallen down the well? Su asks innocently. Instantly I’m convinced Su snuck it off of Yu Jin and threw it in the well himself, lol. They go back to look.

Then we cut to the Red Sleeves Brothel? A girl named Gong Yu is at a window. An old man doesn’t want her at the window. His name is Shisan? Okay. She was apparently watching Qin Bao Ruo, who I remember being the name of Yu’s strategist. Said strategist is off to the palace again, apparently—he’s got a lot of problems that need a sound strategical approach right now. Gong Yu says she’s worried about Su. Shisan says not to worry, as this was all foreseen by Su. Ok, so they are in on Su’s plans, that’s interesting. Why do they know, what’s their deal.

Gong Yu wants to know if she can visit Su in the capitol. Shisan says he sent word to Su asking for permission, and Su says no, she is not to visit. She seems a little stalkerish, and I want her to back off.

Back at Su’s horrible new house, the boys are being adorable again and I love their friendship so much, I love how much Yu Jin gets Jing Rui to lighten up. Jing Rui elects to search the bottom of the well for Yu Jin’s pendant, because he is a Best Friend. And I KNOW this is just a show but it still causes me physical pain to watch him ruin those gorgeous clothes in that mud, lol

Anyway they lower Jing Rui down on a rope and Su watches looking very worried or intent at least and that’s not a great sign. What’s he playing at. This is a rare chance for you to please me, Yu Jin calls down, So try harder! Jing Rui replies with a threat to smear mud all over his face once he’s back up, these bros. Jing Rui finds the token, is all ready to leave, but then he steps on something that cracks and when he looks down:

It’s a human skull.

I was sooooooo not expecting that. Su totally was though, and I want to be mad at him for putting Jing Rui through that but also like imagine if Jing Rui hadn’t noticed while he was down there, what would Su have done? Stolen Jing Rui’s hair pin and tossed down and been like whoops, you must have lost it when you were looking for Yu Jin’s thing?

Jing Rui is horrified, but he refuses to leave until he investigates further, and yeah: THERE’S MORE SKULLS. LOTS MORE. Well, I guess we have our next chapter of the story. From a marriage tournament to a serial killer well. That’s not a great sign of where this show is taking us, lol

Cut to the Crown Prince, he’s asking the Marquis whether or not he thinks Jing could be persuaded to be lenient on the Duke since he owes Yu for that whole Ni Huang thing. The Marquis says nah, Jing isn’t so easily swayed, you’re fine. Then he also says, speaking of the Ni Huang debacle, he’s heard who was responsible for the whole set up and how things went so badly for the Crown Prince. It wasn’t Prince Yu: It was Mei Chang Su.

Well, that’s not a positive development.

Cut to a shot of seemingly endless skeletons lying unearthed beside the well, just to really drive home this ominous turn. All these officials, who I guess are the equivalent of homicide detectives, lol, are busy at the well. Yu Jin asks one how many skeletons have been found, and the guy says seven so far, and all are female. This has suddenly turned into CSI: Fantasy Ancient China. This is apparently the biggest and most shocking case he’s ever had. Su innocently says well, he can’t really help since this was his first visit to the property (ahaaaa so that’s why he sent Fei Liu!). He leaves to go back to the Snow Cottage.

Speaking of the Snow Cottage, the Marquis is back in his manor talking to a man who I thiiiiiink is Jing Rui’s other dad? Anyway he says the Crown Prince has ordered they kill Mei Chang Su. The guy may be a Divine Talent, but if he’s not on their side then they have to take him out of the equation. But he’s leader of the East Yangtze Alliance, protests the other guy (Zhuo, it turns out, is his name): he’s surrounded by pugilists! I can’t attack him! Yeah, I know, says the Marquis. Just find out if Fei Liu is his only bodyguard or not, and I’ll take care of the rest.

This should be a very ominous ending, but I’ve seen Fei Liu in action. I think Mei Chang Su is going to be juuuuust fine. Plus he knows the Marquis is the worst; surely has a contingency plan.

And that’s the end! I sit through the entire ending song because it’s been too long, dangit, (and also HEY THERE’S JING YAN I missed my fave this episode) and then I realize that it’s 3am and I have to be at work at 5am.

Worth it.

[abadpoetwithdreams]

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 6 Reaction

I have now mostly adjusted back to my current timezone after all that globetrotting, so I can use some free time to watch NiF instead of just sleeping. Yay!

Episode 6 starts–once again–exactly where we left off last time. At this point I should accept this as the given startpoint for every episode, but it also means I’m sort of worried that they’ll throw me for a loop and start an episode with a flashback or time jump or something just to mess with me at some point. Consort Yue is getting her comeuppance and I’m totally fine with revisiting that moment, obviously. But then the Emperor asks Jing Do you know what you did wrong? and I’m just oh, wait, no, I didn’t want to see this. That’s right. I was outraged when I finished the last episode, not happy. Time to see what Jing has to reply, I guess.

(Also: another scene with lots of Prince Jing close ups, another scene where I keep getting distracted by eyebrow envy. Seriously. From now on just assume that whenever there’s a close up on Wang Kai’s face I’m feeling a double-pang of jealousy and admiration.)

To my disappointment but also relief, Jing does not answer with “nothing.” Instead, he says he did wrong in holding the Crown Prince at swordpoint. Which, eh, debatable, but it looks like that’s the answer the Emperor was looking for. He asks Jing how did he know to go into Zhaoren Palace to save Ni Huang, when he has never gone that way before? Jing, bless his heart, freezes up and you can see how hard he’s thinking, haha. He can’t say who told him–I’m unclear if he knows the word came from Mei Chang Su or if he just thinks it was Meng, but regardless he can’t namedrop because the Emperor will then want to question THAT person, plus he doesn’t want anyone to know that he and Chang Su are in league. At the same time, though, this is Jing. There’s no way he can come up with a convincing lie on the spot like this. He’s stuck.

But just then: Prince Yu to the rescue! Wait, what?? Yep, our favourite moustacheless Jerk Prince has arrived with his usual flair to worm his way into the narrative in the best light possible. So THAT is what Mei Chang Su was doing last episode! He was sending Yu to save Jing before Jing even went to save Ni Huang, lololol he knows Jing so well. I’m in love with how far ahead this man thinks. His whole mind is a chessboard. It speaks to a rather unhealthy level of singleminded obsession and focused energy, but never mind that for now; let’s just bask in his brilliance.

The Emperor somewhat impatiently asks Yu what he is here for this time (aha he really is just done with this whole afternoon isn’t he? Well, good. I hope this gives you a headache, Emperor). In response, Yu tells the Emperor that HE is the one who told Jing to go save Ni Huang. HAAAAA.

This is such a clever move! Of course Yu will be eager to help Jing out here because Chang Su will have presented it as a chance for him to look good in the Emperor’s eyes, ESPECIALLY in contrast to the disgraced Crown Prince (aka moustache Jerk Prince), and even more, now he’s probably going to feel like Jing owes him something. But this is also the perfect cover for Jing, aka the prince Chang Su is ACTUALLY looking out for. I love it. But it’s a very good thing that no one was looking at Jing’s face when Yu said that, because this boy has no poker face whatsoever and his utter confusion and surprise is sooooo obvious, lolll.

Ni Huang’s skeptical-dagger sideeye is much more subtle. I say this every episode recap, but: be more like Ni Huang, Jing.

The Emperor demands details, and Yu very confidently tells this whole story of how he was on his way to visit his mother (filial piety: check!), and his route took him past Zhaoren palace where he noticed the Crown Prince, because how could he not notice such an important personage (respect to his higher ranking brother: check!), and the Crown Prince was letting Sima Lei into the palace. He thought it inappropriate to let an official into the palace (ooh, he’s so conscientious about propriety! Check!) so he had his men investigate and when they reported Ni Huang was also there, he thought that strange and sent for Jingyan. As the Emperor points out, this keen observation and quick putting-together of all the clues also makes Yu look very intelligent. UGH Prince Yu must be grinning like a cat on the inside. Jing looks almost as impressed as the Emperor as he listens to this rigamarole, albeit he also looks increasingly disgusted. Control your beautiful face, Jingyan.

The Emperor looks very approving of his sneaky son, but also wants to know why Yu chose to send Jing in instead of going himself? Yu smoothly answers that he thought it would be wrong of him to enter the palace, considering it is heavily guarded so he would have to take his own guards with him, too. Jing happened to walk by, so that’s why he picked Jing to go instead. Since Jing is a prince, it would be within his rights to go in, and he could just apologize if nothing was amiss and be on his way. I guess as a lesser ranked prince and one who is highly skilled in martial arts as well, his entering the palace alone wouldn’t be as aggressive and dangerous an act as Yu entering accompanied by armed men.

Huh, says the Emperor, I’m surprised you just obeyed Prince Yu and went, Jing. You’re usually not so obedient. (Which made me instantly envision how this actual scenario would really go down, preferably along the lines of

(Yu: Hey, Jing Yan, do me a favor, I need you to go into Zhaoren palace and–)

(Jing: Do it yourself. *doesnt break stride*)

Jing has caught on to the ploy by now, thank heaven for small mercies, and says since this concerned Ni Huang’s safety, he did not have the luxury of ignoring his brother’s order, lol. Yu pipes up and praises Jing for acting so bravely and saving Ni Huang in time, and then goes one step further and accepts the blame for threatening the life of the Crown Prince, saying he himself did not hold the sword, but Jing was only there under his orders, so it’s his fault really. If the Emperor plans on punishing Jing, then Yu demands that he also share that punishment, because that is only fair. Aw, what a noble, righteous, good prince this Yu is NOPE WAIT A SECOND HE’S NOT GOOD HE’S JUST GOOD AT LYING AND PLAYING HIS CARDS RIGHT. I see you, Yu, I seeee youuuu.

The Emperor chuckles, good humor restored, and accepts this whole story, wryly saying that well, he does know Yu keeps close watch on the Crown Prince, after all. Sanctimonious Prince Yu humbly responds that of course he does: the Crown Prince is both his superior in rank AND his older brother! He looks up to him and strives always to follow in his footsteps and he always has! Enough of such talk, the Emperor cuts him off, saying what we are all thinking. He knows this last, at least, is utter hogwash, but he also decides to believe the rest of Yu’s story. While this doesn’t excuse Jing for his crime (at this, both Ni Huang and Yu interrupt to beg that Jing be shown clemency, which, aw (even if Yu is just doing this for himself)), the gracious Emperor will allow the merit of his good deed in saving Ni Huang to cancel out whatever punishment he earned. How nice.

Prince Yu, however, gets rewarded with pearls and brocade and all sorts of fancy riches as well as his father’s praise, so that’s unfair. We get to see both Yu and Jing make deep bows and thank their dad, but we sadly don’t see the Crown Prince’s face when Yu gets all that reward, because he must be losing his MIND. Also Ni Huang doesn’t look that pleased, but she is composed nonetheless. The Empress looks VERY pleased. She came out of this best: her hated rival was shamed and punished and demoted, her son earned himself so many brownie points, AND she got to watch both of these events go down. It’s just a really good day for her.

While Jing is storming away from the palace–he doesn’t look more grumpy than usual, he just always looks like he’s storming places when he walks–Ni Huang chases after him.

She tells him he left too quickly; she hadn’t even finished thanking Prince Yu when Jing was already gone! I don’t blame him; I’d want to get out of there as fast as I could, too. But then she continues and tells Jing that she knows that Yu was lying; she knows he didn’t send Jing to save her. Did Mister Su send you? she asks, a little self-consciously; she does not meet Jing’s eyes as she asks the question. Hey hey heyyyyyy

What does Su have do do with anything? Jing asks, looking truly perplexed. Commander General Meng was the one who approached me. (Ok, so I guess our poor brave Prince really did have no idea Su was involved. Oh, precious.) (Also the blessed people who do the music for this show had a chime or somesuch instrument ring really loudly as he said this and started talking it out, it was like an audible version of a lightbulb suddenly clicking on as he starts to work things out, I laughed)

He says he was skeptical, but hey, he trusts Meng and since the order concerned Ni Huang’s safety, he figured better safe than sorry. Why would she think Su had anything to do with it? Ni Huang looks taken aback, then disappointed, then a little irritated but mostly determined. Well, she says, I clearly have some questions for Meng.

(Uh oh, Meng. Start running now. Or at least I hope you have been coached on what to tell her. I feel like you aren’t really up to the task of improvising a convincing cover story that would be good enough to fool the Princess.)

Meanwhile, Prince Yu and his mother are enjoying a celebratory Drink and Gloat together. As one does, when your political, romantic, and fraternal rivals all shoot themselves in the foot on the same day, right in front of you. The Empress gleefully congratulates her snakey son. Said snakey son responds by grinning and basically saying Hey, mom, just in case you thought I was being nice? I wasn’t. I was being sneaky. Just thought you should know. Which is to say, he tells her how he wasn’t really defending Jing, he was just stealing all the credit for Jing’s bravery and good deed, and he actually had nothing to do with saving Ni Huang at all. This probably makes her even more proud, sighhhh. Something I do like about this show is what mama’s boys these rival Princes are, even while being genuinely terrible human beings. Prince Yu is reeeally basking in his mother’s praise.

Yu points out an additional bonus he gained that I hadn’t considered until now: Ni Huang might not have considered herself indebted to the Empress for her intervening, since the Empress seemingly showed up by chance. Ni Huang would probably have felt grateful towards Jing instead, because, duh. But by taking credit for sending Jing in the first place, Prince Yu has ensured that Ni Huang has ended up indebted to him after all, in addition to Jing also owing him now. Verrrrry impressive. Sure enough, the Empress LOVES this, but then she stops to ask: Yu might have taken credit for sending Jing, but since he didn’t actually do it–what is the real reason for Jing being in Zhaoren palace?

Yu flashes back to his meeting with Mei Chang Su, where Su told him where to go and what to do. Thinking out loud, in some awe, Yu remarks that he isn’t the biggest winner of the day after all; when the Empress asks what he means, he explains: Mei Chang Su was the real winner of the day. He orchestrated everything, on such scant evidence. Yu really, really, REALLY wants Mr. Divine Talent on his team now. The man is just so brilliant! (Yes he is, Yu. More than you know.)

While this is happening, Ni Huang has tracked down Meng, with Jing tagging along. She evidently piqued his curiosity. Meng has this wonderful “oh no” face when he greets them; he’s smiling but also he definitely knows he’s about to be grilled. And thus begins the Lang Ya Bang Sherlock Holmes AU, starring Princess Ni Huang as Holmes and Prince Jing as her silent, stalwart Watson. Under questioning, Meng tries his darndest but ends up folding extremely quickly, loll. Meng tries saying he got news that Sima Lei entered the palace because he’s a Commander General responsible for the Emperor’s safety, he knows about stuff like that! But even Jing CLEARLY isn’t buying that. Ni Huang very sweetly marvels at how incredibly insightful and quick thinking Meng is (she is smugly triumphant as she says this because she knows all three of them know that isn’t Meng at all lolol her happy expression and lifting of her chin is so cute) and he immediately gives up the ruse because he’s honest and knows that she has him.

The trio move their conversation inside where Meng presumably confesses that the rescue was all Mei Chang Su’s doing. Jing is skeptical about how Mei Chang Su could deduce Ni Huang’s peril so accurately from so little information. Meng opens his mouth to answer, and looks surprised when Ni Huang answers first, and of course she isn’t speaking from any Su Script: she’s speaking for herself. She tells Jing about how she has evidence that Su knew something was wrong even before Sima Lei arrived: Mei Chang Su had warned her himself to be wary of the harem. Jing does NOT look happy at this revelation. Ni Huang is not that happy either, to be honest, because she has to make certain to present Yu with a lavish gift and abundant thanks the next day, but she is so SURE that it is Su she should really be thanking.

Meng asks why Ni Huang must thank Yu when it’s so obvious he had nothing to do with it and was merely out to steal glory? Oh, Meng, you innocent. Ni Huang reminds him that, well, Yu does technically deserve thanks because he prevented Jing from being punished–no matter how selfish his motives were–but she also reminds him that the Crown Prince, though somewhat disgraced, is still the Heir and still possesses all the power that entails. If she is abundantly thankful to Prince Yu and ignores Jing, then it is less likely that the humiliated Crown Prince will target Jing and persecute him for his role in Consort Yue’s downfall, and more likely the Crown Prince will focus his hatred instead on Yu–who, let’s face it, has already been established as his hated rival, so this ploy should work to focus his rage. She’s using her social duty to trick the feuding Princes into keeping their blinders on and attacking only each other, forgetting Jing. Awwww, she’s protecting our Jingyan, I’m so proud. Jing (who has been looking pretty deep in thought this whole time) looks a little self-conscious, I think. I’m betting he hadn’t stopped to consider he might be targeted by the Crown Prince.

(Sidenote: Wang Kai’s face is very distracting in this scene, because the lighting is juuuuust right for shining off his carefully highlighted cheekbones and his skin is very shiny here like good lord lol. He’s just so beautiful it’s hard to concentrate on what he’s saying. It’s probably a good thing that Jing doesn’t smile very much in this show so far, because if he ever did look genuinely happy I don’t think I could handle it on an emotional level.)

Jing remarks that Prince Yu had seemed very pleased. Understatement, much? Ni Huang says of course he was pleased! She lays out all the reasons why Yu is winning at life right now, and then pauses: Yu must have a wonderfully clever mentor, she says, slowly. The look of sudden dawning disgust on Jing’s face is glorious to behold. He is DEFINITELY NOT happy. Wow, he says, this mentor really IS something, isn’t he. He’s causing so much chaos in the palace; none of us, seemingly, can escape his machinations. He’s playing ALL of us. Meng looks really unhappy to hear Jing talk so coldly about Mei Chang Su, but of course he can’t say anything in our favourite plotting scholar’s defense! Aaaand fade to black. I have a hunch that Jing is suddenly not feeling so thankful about the whole saving of the slave kid thing.

Next scene, after an undetermined jump in time (I’m guessing it’s the same day since Jing is wearing the exact same outfit, but then again maybe he just likes that outfit idk), begins with Jing approaching Mei Chang Su. Uh oh.

(I want to take a moment here to compliment the lighting on this show because it’s always so clear and cold, there’s always this natural-frozen-winter lighting on everything and it’s wonderfully atmospheric and gorgeous to look at. Ok carry on.)

Su bows politely because he’s so polite and proper always (pfft) and asks why Jing summoned him during bad weather (it’s on the cusp of a rainstorm apparently? Considering that Mei Chang Su is ill and everyone’s usually making such a fuss about him being out in the cold and damp, this is yet ANOTHER red flag about just how Not Happy Jing is. Jing does take an instant to look a little guilty, but then shakes it off because he’s still righteously angry.

(Hey Lin Shu, where’s your furs, you brat? Somewhere Fei Liu is fuming for sure.)

Your Highness seems angry, says Su. Jing gives him this wonderful “oh DO i?” deadpan glare, and then has out with it: He wants to know if Chang Su is happy with how the Ni Huang crisis turns out. The heavy implication is that Jing thinks Su orchestrated the whole thing, setting up Ni Huang so that Jing would have to save her, so that Jing would thereby earn her powerful family’s loyalty and also the Crown Prince would be destabilized–all this makes sense from a standpoint of cold logic, of course, and Prince Yu would definitely have arranged something like this if he could. We know as the audience that this isn’t actually what was going on, but then again Su DID turn the situation to his advantage. He did gamble somewhat with Ni Huang’s safety. But I’m certain that was not deliberate on his part: remember he did try to tell her not to visit the palace, she just ignored him.

Anyway, Jing is FURIOUS about this. He tells Su that in future, he demands that Su tell him BEFORE something like this happens. He doesn’t want to be Su’s pawn if they are truly collaborating to put Jing on the throne. If Su is going to be playing games with good people’s lives to attain his endgame, then Jing wants to know about it in advance or the deal between them is done. In fact, he’s going to take it even further and say Su is not ALLOWED to use good people like that, period. Jing says he does not want people like Ni Huang to end up as “stepping stones to my success,” which, awwww. HE IS SO GOOD. He is also SO ILL-SUITED TO THESE POLITICS.

Su listens to all this without interrupting or defending himself, but then he just says he did not expect Jing to think this of him and awwww he’s so sad. Jing starts telling Su about how good Ni Huang is and how she isn’t one of the bad people in court, one of the people squabbling for power; she’s sacrificed her life to the military to protect her people, she deserves better than to be a pawn in a strategist’s scummy games. Poor Su looks pretty haunted for this entire speech, but then he says he understands: Your highness is here today to set the rules.

(The way the power dynamic is constantly fluctuating between these two is fascinating, btw. Jing rightly saw in the Ni Huang case how Su is controlling the action, so now here he comes to control Su. We the audience know that Su can’t reeeeeally be controlled. But we shall see how it goes moving forward, I guess.)

Then there’s a tiny scene basically letting us know that the Empress is using all her influence to make Consort Yue’s life hell, but I don’t have much to say about that because this Mei Chang Su and Jing scene is THE scene of the episode and maybe even the entire show so far. What we get here is the most important monologue Jing has had so far, where he really tells both us and Su exactly who he is (here copied out in full, because it is That Important):

I have met many strategists. I have witnessed the most despicable and malicious acts they performed. The stabs in the back; not even the strongest person could withstand them. My eldest brother. My best friend. Both of them died from such unscrupulous schemes. I will not have them see me become a ruthless person who will stop at nothing. I don’t ask that you understand what it means to be iron-willed and tough in battle. But there are some people who mustn’t be hurt and some methods that mustn’t be used. If you can’t even respect those warriors who risk their lives in battle, then I, Xiao Jing Yan, will never associate myself with you.

THERE’S SO MUCH TO UNPACK HERE GUYS BUT IM TOO BUSY CRYING.

1. Jing hates strategists. Now confirmed that he hates them because he saw what they did to the people he loved best. Now confirmed that his disgust for Su stems from his anger at what people like Su did to Shu who is Su and just STOP SHOW STOP

2. Mysterious Eldest Brother Qi is mentioned yet again. When will we find out exactly what happened twelve years ago. Whennnn.

3. Hard to imagine a Jing who actually liked one of his brothers, this is very sad

4. Jing has felt all this time that he has to live up to his dead brother and dead friend’s expectations of him, he’s been haunting himself with their judgemental ghosts all these years so even if Su gives him a way to avenge them by taking the throne himself he won’t let it be at the cost of becoming that thing that killed them to begin with good GRIEF Jing *takes a moment to cry a little more*

5. Jing of course assumes that Su does not understand the martial way of life and code of honor because he’s just a scholar strategist whose battlefield is the political arena (aka he’s manipulative trash) but also we know he is So Wrong and if he just stopped being angry a moment and really looked at Su’s face while he’s telling him this maybe he’d have second thoughts because Su looks CRUSHED

6. LIN SHU PLS JUST TELL JING WHO YOU ARE AND GRAB NI HUANG AND MENG AND JUST LEAVE JUST FIND A NICE HIDEAWAY SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU CAN BE HAPPY TOGETHER also Jingmum and Mu can come too just stop hiding and be safe and be happy look how broken Jing is just UGHHH

7. (Also since our Lin Shu is, of course, going to stay pretending to be Mei Chang Su, then even if he swears transparency to Jing it’s still a lie. Even if he brings Jing in on his plans in future, Jing is STILL just a pawn being played. I hate this I hate this I love this I hate this)

The drama knows we need some breathing space and time to restock our tissue boxes after that scene, so now we have another Empress scene, this time her talking with Prince Yu again.

I forget if we had explicit confirmation before that Yu is only the Empress’ adopted son, not her birth son (though I guess the fact that he isn’t the heir is sort of a giveaway), but she clearly says it here. I wonder if he was evil even before she adopted him or if he only developed all his snakey traits after. The Empress asks about Jing, and Yu says Jing left quietly and hasn’t said anything about Yu stealing credit, so they disregard him as a threat, figuring if he didn’t flare up angrily about it now, then he’s not going to ever bring it up again. The Empress apologizes for not managing to make her son the Heir when he’s so superior to the Crown Prince; Yu says that’s fine, everyone knows the Emperor favors the Consort anyway so it made sense he’d pick her son as heir. I don’t see how this should make the Empress feel better, but ok Yu.

The scheming mom and son team decide they have to take advantage of Consort Yue’s disgrace and house arrest (oh yeah, the Empress is trying to make sure no palace news reaches her rival too) to supplant the Crown Prince and replace him with Yu. Yu says here he feels very confident this will work, especially because he knows now that the Divine Talent is on his side.

Back to Jing and Su! Su agrees to Jing’s terms, but then asks if he can lay down some rules of his own. Jing looks grumpy, naturally, but concedes by sitting down with Su at table (previously he was still stubbornly standing).

(Sidenote: THE MUSIC T_T)

Su tells Jing he won’t cross the boundaries Jing has set, but also: they’re up against the Crown Prince and Prince Yu. If they are to win against those two, then Jing WILL have to be willing to be more ruthless than them. In addition, since Jing and Su are a TEAM, there should be no more secrets between them (OH THAT’S RICH). Secrets like … Ting Sheng, for example.

Uh, Ting Sheng? What could possibly be secret about Ting Sheng? Jing asks in the least innocent way possible. (Sidenote: remember what I said about how the power is constantly being passed back and forth between these two? Here comes Mei Chang Su taking it back after that verbal and moral drubbing from Jing.)

Su isn’t holding back: I’m talking about his real identity, he says. Jing looks guilty and distressed at this development, then confesses: this is his only secret, the only thing he will not speak of. How did Su figure it out? Su takes some pity on him and doesn’t say “because you are THE worst liar ever, Jingyan”; he sidesteps and says that isn’t important. What IS important is he had this knowledge and didn’t use it against Jing. HE IS ON JING’S SIDE. TRUST HIM. Also, Jing NEEDS him on his side, because once they can’t stay under the radar with their grab for the throne anymore, both the Crown Prince AND Yu will go after Jing, and does Jing think he could survive that without Mei Chang Su’s help? Nope, didn’t think so.

Jing concedes this but then starts reiterating that still, there are good people in court who are not involved in politics and who he does not want drawn into this, and THIS time Su does cut him off, saying that it doesn’t matter: he WILL still use those who can be used to further Jing’s rise in power. Jing looks taken aback at this. But Su continues, saying that though he will use people, he will do his best not to hurt them. That’s the best he can promise. I think this honesty and openness gets through to Jing a little; it’s a compromise anyway and it comes across as Su not trying to lie to him and not WANTING to hurt people, or at least not being entirely dispassionate about it. Jing nods and rises, looking very conflicted, and then pauses as he leaves.

I still have to thank you, he says, for rescuing Ting Sheng. Then he walks out. So I guess he still has to thank him. Hm.

Next scene: FINALLY MY GOOD PURE BOYS ARE BACK. Their arrival is well-timed because after all that angst I am so emotionally exhausted and they revive me.

“Hey, Jing Rui, isn’t that man who just went by your brother Zhou Qing Yao?” OK NEVER MIND THIS DOESNT MAKE ME FEEL ANY HAPPIER AT ALL

Jing Rui says it’s impossible that Yu Jin saw his brother; his brother couldn’t have returned home without Jing Rui being notified! Guys, I have such a bad feeling about this. Such a bad feeling. Even the music is like “UH OH WATCH OUT.”

But our two favourite Good Besties shrug it off and decide to visit Mei Chang Su. Apparently he’s started looking for a house of his own (remember he’s still living on the Marquis’ property atm)? Hm. There must be a Reason for this.

Cut to–sure enough–Zhou Qing Yao talking with the Marquis. He’s reporting on Xia Dong, the intelligence woman who dislikes Jing and who was sent to investigate that Duke of Qing from episode like one or two. It’s been a while. He says she’s found enough evidence that the Duke is sunk if she gets back to the capitol to report. This is all well and good, because the Marquis wants Prince Yu weakened, but Xia Dong also found out stuff that could implicate the Marquis–she’s just too good at her job. (She also looks amazing while riding across that river with her hood up, I love deep dramatic hoods.)

Xie Bi, Jing Rui’s brother and the Marquis’ son, has all this time been supporting Prince Yu. He, Jing Rui, and everyone think that while he has taken a political side, his father is noble and neutral. In actuality, though, the Marquis supports the Crown Prince. This way the family wins no matter which prince ultimately takes the throne! But Xia Dong now has evidence that will prove the Marquis supports the Crown Prince. So he tells his aghast son in law basically that he’s arranging to have Xia Dong killed before she gets back to court. WELP

Cut to nighttime at a brothel, yayyy. That’s a sarcastic yay. The subtitles say it’s called Red Sleeves Brothel but also showed subtitles for Heavenly Music House, so is the brothel near the music house or are they connected or what. I thiiiink they’re just near each other???? But in the Red Sleeves Brothel (I think) we find Yu’s strategist, that woman with the red eyeliner! She reads and then burns a note that apparently informed her of Duke of Qing’s situation. She admits she can do nothing for him now and wonders aloud what the Divine Talent could do. Is she jealous? I think she is, a bit.

Cut to what is probably the next day, and Jing Rui meets with his Marquis dad who apparently summoned him. The Marquis inquires about how Mei Chang Su is doing and exhorts Jing Rui to keep looking after him well. Jing Rui says he will, but also that Su is looking into moving out into a house of his own. He looks so sad when he says this, awwwww, no. Don’t feel bad, Jing Rui! The Marquis meanwhile looks alarmed. He tells Jing Rui to keep him updated on if Su needs anything.

Cut to Jing Rui and Yu Jin hanging out at a riverbank, where Jing Rui looks like he’s kind of sulky and moody but more importantly HIS HAIR IS DOWN. I like loose-hair Jing Rui! Anyway, Yu Jin asks him why they’re there. Jing Rui says he just wanted to get out of the capitol; after his time away it seems so stifling, and everyone has changed, poor boy. He says he feels like both his father and Su have changed. Yu Jin says but your father was always like that! and Jing Rui shakes his head with the saddest pensive pout, I feel so bad. He doesn’t even know. DONT LET HIM FIND OUT SHOW DONT DO IT PLEEEEASE.

Yu Jin just shrugs and says that, to be fair, Mei Chang Su was always unfathomable, and he could tell Su never really considered them to be real friends of his. Jing Rui says nothing but his whole expression says BUT I WANT TO BE HIS REAL FRIEND THO.

(Jing Rui is wearing THE prettiest dark blue and silver outfit, btw. It’s very House Fingolfin. I love it.)

Jing Rui just looks sadder and sadder so Yu Jin switches gears and starts trying to cheer him up, suggesting a visit to the Heavenly Music House (some names are dropped so I’m guessing they’ll be important but I don’t care enough to remember them yet) and a nice boat outing and stuff, and see, Jing Rui, you already have a best friend in Yu Jin. Just be happy with that, don’t worry about Su! Yu Jin’s cajoling works and Jing Rui does cheer up, and they go back to their horses. But then they are startled when a Mysterious Cloaked Figure emerges from behind a tree!

I recognize her instantly: it’s Xia Dong. She’s missing her horse though, which can’t be a good sign.

Now we go back to Prince Yu, where the Duke of Qing is pleading for help. Yu has no more help to give, though, the Duke is done for at this point. Also Yu keeps punching himself in the face because he’s so frustrated and, like, more of this please I’m living. Yu says he needs to find out who escorted the old couple accusing the Duke (remember earlier the Marquis said it was his people I think, the son-in-law and his pugilist dad?) because he’s freaking out that the Crown Prince seemingly has secret pugilist allies.

Also Yu throws a fit here, an actual finger-wagging, mimicking-the-Duke’s-voice sort of fit, and it’s the best. He wants to know where Xia Dong, the investigator who knows too much, is.

Well, she’s with Jing Rui and Yu Jin at the river, that’s where. She calls Yu Jin over and he is hilariously frightened of her (apparently because she was his mega-harsh martial arts teacher when he was tiny) but he does approach, and she pretends to be bullying him but it’s just a cover so she can get close and whisper for him to help her back to the main road. Once he’s close he notices there’s blood running down her hand. Ohhhhh dear. She tells him to relax and pretend nothing is wrong.

To his credit, Yu Jin does this very well, no hesitation. He’s very sunny but he isn’t a fool; I love how he is always very capable, even if he enjoys larking. Jing Rui notices something must be wrong as they approach, and he also switches into serious mode, grabbing his sword as he rushes over. As long as I don’t fall over they won’t dare to come out, whispers Xia Dong, which is one of THE coolest lines ever given to a female character, I love itttt. She says there’s men hiding in the woods.

Soon enough, those men attack anyway! Can I just say all the shots of them sliding down the trees were great, btw, that looks like so much fun. Jing Rui tells Yu Jin to run ahead with the wounded Xia Dong and then proceeds to take out like twenty guys all by himself I love him so muchhhh. (Sidenote: I love all the shots of our boys hurrying through the tall grass while carrying the skirts of their robes, it’s so funny ok but also relatable) There’s a cool Jing Rui’s sword POV shot at some point and yeah the whole fight is majorly fun. This actor’s swordfighting is A++++ aesthetic.

Some assassins do surround Yu Jin and Xia Dong despite Jing Rui’s heroics, but our heroes fend them off unarmed, and they’re also awesome. Major props to whoever did Yu Jin’s series of backflips in all those heavy robes, goshdangggg. That was impressive. Also Xia Dong gets a blade and starts just DESTROYING all the assassins, what a fantastic woman. I also am beginning to suspect she wasn’t QUITE as injured as she was making out. My suspicious are confirmed when she fakes being weakened and hurting to lure out the leader of the assassins, who she then easily takes down. Then she casually PUNCHES THE POISON CAPSULE TOOTH OUT OF HIS MOUTH I love her so muchhhhhh

Good pure Jing Rui is a bit distressed by this, but Yu Jin tells him to just let her be. I think he is still scared of her. Xia Dong asks the assassin who sent him to kill her. His response? Prince Yu.

Annnd end episode! Is it really Prince Yu who sent the assassins? I don’t think so, because he told the Duke he could do nothing more for him AND that he didn’t know where Xia Dong was. Meanwhile, we know the Marquis was sending an ambush. The Prince Yu answer is probably just a coverup to misdirect. Does that mean Jing Rui just killed like a score of his dad’s own men? Oh, dear.

This is maybe my favourite episode since episode two! Fast-paced, no longer tied up with the Ni Huang marriage subplot, the story’s focus is now reverting more and more to Jing and I’m so here for that. Plus the story just keeps getting deeper and deeper, adding new levels to everyone’s motivations and relationships and oh it’s so good. It’s just so good. I’m so scared.

Also! Here (with permission) is a supersmart, superhelpful, and superhilarious graphic for this episode made by glimmeroo! It’s great and you should check out their work. I’ll try to keep linking to their graphics in each recap post I make from now on, as we are both recapping episodes just in different formats, so I think our posts compliment each other nicely ^_^

[abadpoetwithdreams]

NIF Episode 8 Fandom Talk

@thesilentdarkangel THANK YOU SO MUCH I'm glad you continue to enjoy my work as I enjoy this show, and also I am seriously having Wang Kai withdrawals #teameyebrows (I think this makes Crown Prince #teammoustache and Yu #teamforehead)

@orangememory ohhhhhh, your explanation about Pugilist Dad makes so much sense! I mean, I want to shake him and be like "nnnooooooo that isn't how this works" but it makes sense: he thinks he is doing good by honoring his duties to both family and government, and thereby does evil. And thus our poor Jing Rui sunshine boy is doubly-trapped I HATE EVERYTHING T_T (oh and I BET the fandom went wild for that line. As soon as that joke was made in the show I could just SENSE the fic) (also thank you for giving me Meng's actor's ACTUAL name, the only sources I could find just had his English name and English names for successful Chinese actors always just feel weird to me idk it's like the press calling Zhao Wei Vicky Zhao it's just WEIRD)

@star-shadows ahhhAHHHHH I FORGOT ABOUT THAT SCENE IN THE NOVEL. I stopped reading the novel only a chapter or two after that, since storylines were progressing at different rates and some were veering dangerously close to spoiler territory. But when you mentioned it, YES I remember him and the super-dramatic red bow, and that amazing shot ahhhhhHHHHHHH I reread the whole thing and now I'm having Lin Shu emotions again aaaaaghhh (also that's really cool about the dialogue matching so closely!) and THE SNOW SCENE REENACTMENT IM SOBBING THIS IS THE GREATEST THING