#duan bai yue

[jaymei]

anon freeform prompt for @danmei-action ! i adore these two

[thegreatxdf]

Our tsundere emperor can be sweet too ❤️

[web-novel-polls]

Have You Read This Web Novel?

If you’re in the process of reading this web novel, please choose whichever option best fits your situation. You do not have to be completely finished with it to answer “yes.”

If you’ve never heard of it, please read the description below the cut!

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Novel Updates:

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move. Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this. Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored. Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange? Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was. Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word. You. Note (1): Chu Yuan is using the royal ‘we’ here. The Emperor’s Strategy is the fourth book in Yu Xiao Lan Shan’s Jianghu/Strategy series. Each book is standalone, but there are character cameos and mentions that don’t disrupt the flow of the main story of each book. 1st book: Everywhere in Jianghu is Wonderful 2nd book: The Jianghu is Full of Local Tyrants 3rd book: The Bandit’s Strategy 4th book: The Emperor’s Strategy 5th book: Return Together

Carrd:

A tale of an emperor and a king separated by thousands of li and a thousand words left unsaid.

[eyenaku]

Ji ji fu ji ji

a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

[durianinspectors]

Mega-Lobster Spawning

Yue Fei leapt the last couple of feet from the Azure Dragon's cargo bay, the boots of his Hsien armor absorbing the impact and squashing several bright, orange lobster larvae against the green steel of the Agile Chipmunk's deck. The two members of his corporate security detail followed, flanking him on each side. They were a little twitchy from the cocktail of brightly colored drugs he'd seen them discreetly swallowing on the dropship, but they still managed to avoid treading on the slimy lobster larvae with their expensive shoes.

As they'd made the final descent, he'd captured a picture of the surreal site in his mind. The Agile Chipmunk, the first of the massive Ariadnan cargo ships attempting to breach the blockade at New Hypatia's docks, billowed thick, oily smoke from its burning engines. The automated defense cannons of the blockade had unleashed incendiary fire, igniting multiple fuel fires. However, this only set the stage for the bizarre spectacle that followed. Excited Hypatian Megalobsters had swarmed around the fires, depositing thick slurries of off-white eggs in a gluey mucus that had solidified in the heat. The staff biologists had provided him with their analysis, suggesting that these alien lobsters had adapted to breeding in the presence of volcanic vents' extreme temperatures. The earliest-laid egg clusters had already begun to hatch, and thousands of soft-shelled larvae, measuring only an inch in length, were now falling onto the deck, starting their search for food. It was evident that this would pose a significant problem.

At the best of times, the Durian Inspection Unit task force deployed on New Hypatia found Hypatian Megalobsters a nuisance. They grew incredibly quickly and a hungry, young Megalobster in a fruit shipment leaving the straits could reach adulthood in the week or so it would take for the cargo to travel through the circulars. In their adult form, they were two feet long, armed with formidable claws and an aggressive disposition. One had caused quite a scandal several years ago when it gravely injured a 53-year-old fruit packer in Tian Di Jing market on Shentang.

Ordinarily, the Durian Inspection Unit's regular schedule of draconian inspections and careful enforcement of cargo-packing rules made sure that no Megalobsters made it onto the landing pads and out of the system. Unfortunately the last few days were far from ordinary, Brutus's blockade had caused a massive backlog of colossal cargo ships outside the docks, laden with their goods. Damaged vessels had lost containers overboard, and the available food for the newly hatched brood posed a looming threat of an angry crustacean infestation within a matter of weeks. If left unchecked, all the cargo stranded by the blockade could be destroyed.

To protect the citizens of Yu Jing and the human sphere, they would have to put out these fires. Fast.

The blue silhouettes of a number of Pan Oceanian troops appeared across the superstructure of the ship. Amplified shouting carried through the smoke of the engine fires.

“Tis I, Sir John, hero of Cameliard! If you don’t leave this area forthwith, foul pirates, I shall be forced to charge you on my trusty steed and put you to the sword!”

“Sir John, this is Hsien Yue Fei. It is a pleasure to meet you again, we remain indebted to you for opening the Cameliard gates for our Durgama task force. We most respectfully ask you to stand aside as we have important duties to perform here.” The diplomatic phase of the engagement ended swiftly, as several Feuerbach shells punched large holes in a nearby wall.

Losing patience with the delay, Yue Fei stepped forward and opened fire through the smoke cloud, quickly killing a Kamau sniper and wounding the Orc with the Feuerbach, forcing him to take cover.

This opened a gap for the Lu Duan’s holo-echoes to rush forward across the ship. A confused helot delayed for a second, then chose to target a hologram with red-fury fire, giving the combat remote a chance to gun down a Fugazi. With the cover of smoke, Yue Fei dispatched the Helot, freeing the Lu Duan to advance.

The Lu Duan advanced and poured heavy flamer fire onto Patsy Garnet and her machinist colleague. Patsy’s threw a grenade in response, which landed on the Lu Duan and failed to penetrate it’s armor. The hacker in her haris failed to boot up his hacking device in time to do anything. The Lu Duan advanced further still, singing Sir John a little but failing to incapacitate him.

[Editor’s note: Hmm, the Lu Duan looks like a Rui Shi. Must be a malfunctioning holoprojector. Yu Jing turn 1 ends with five enemy dead and the Montesa, Kamau Hacker AND Orc under a heavy flamer template.]

Sir John impetuously swung his heavy bike around and onto the Lu Duan, disabling it with a crunch of servos and managing to avoid the worst of the gout of fire it shot his way. Confident in his abilities as a one man army, he pulled the data core from the Lu Duan [scoring In Extremis Recovery] and prepared to head towards the smoke clouds and Yu Jing forces.

As Sir John swerved into the open, Major Lunah broke her cover and cracked a shot in his direction. Unable to track his erratic driving, however, the shot went wide.

Then, stunned in disbelief, Lunah held her fire, as Sir John decided to help the Yu Jing cause and put out one of the engine fires.

Sir John gunned his engines and headed straight towards Hsien Yue Fei. Lunah decided to suspend her temporary ceasefire and fired off another shot, bringing Sir John down feet in front of Yue Fei, unconscious under his bike and caked in slimy eggs.

The Orc with the Feuerbach seemed upset by this, and responded with a savage volley that badly damaged Major Lunah’s LHOST. She had to sit the rest of this engagement out. With Lunah down, Fusilier Bipandra stood up and tried to fire a couple of medikit shots into brave Sir John, but missed wildly. [Varuna’s turn 1 ends. A shame about poor Lunah, but worth it to save the Hsien]

Following some speculation over comms that it might be important to maintain plausible deniability in case any war crimes were to happen, the Celestial Guard fired a smoke grenade to cover Hsien Yue Fei and Sir John. Coincidentally, stray bullets hit medic Indigo Bipandra seconds later and the unconscious Sir John flailed around haphazardly in the smoke and managed to slash himself quite badly on Yue Fei’s sword. An unfortunate accident, certainly, and definitely not the chivalric duel Sir John had been hoping for. Some suppressive fire from the Hsien’s direction was able to convince the Feuerbach Orc to drop the ground second time.

With the Pan Oceanian “hard defense” temporarily softened, the Sophotect and Su Jian both rushed forward, waded through cakes of megalobster eggs and managed to extinguish the remaining two engine fires.

Once the smoke from the leftmost engine fire disappeared, the Su Jian and Motorized bounty hunter were able to engage and kill a helot and Zulu Cobra, who had been guarding the flank.

[Varuna were pretty badly mauled heading into their turn 2, with just six orders remaining.]

To gain retribution, and with limited troops left to do so, the Orc left his vantage point and brought his fusilier team down to secure the midfield. His feuerbach was brutal in this role, and he was able to kill the Weibing remote, Su Jian, the Celestial Guard Kuang Shi controller and the Motorized Bounty Hunter. The Sophotect was able to dodge and drop the last member of the fusilier team with a combi rifle shot while the Orc’s attention was on the Su Jian.

[Yu Jing Turn 3: Ouch, watch out for Orcs with Feuerbachs!] The Orc’s shooting had left it in an extremely exposed position, leaving Hsien Yue Fei in position to attack the rest of the fireteam. The remaining fusiliers fell first, then the Orc’s heavy armor finally cracked under a barrage of HMG shots.

Hsien Yue Fei walked across the battlefield, taking up position by the bridge control console with his CSU escorts. Two Kuang Shi and the Sophotect stepped back to safeguard the other console. The remaining Kamau and Fugazi decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and hid in a pile of lobster eggs. All that remained was the chore of taking some samples for the staff biologists and harvesting some additional adult Megalobsters to go in the hotpot back at the DIU field office. 9-1 ISS Victory

175 VP remaining ISS 32 VP remaining Varuna

[yuziyou]

Duan Bai Yue & Chu Yuan

[cfensi]

Promo Round-up: The Pavilion

Promo Round-up: #ThePavilion

The Pavilion is the first of four Light On dramas to go on air – hopefully there are equal parts of repairing family relationships and mystery. Starring Duan Yihong, Hao Lei, Zu Feng, Wu Yue and Bai Yufan, the drama premieres on iQiyi tonight. (more…)

[phoenixlionme]

Asian Martial Arts

I will be doing a set of posts of all of the martial arts from each of the country they all originated from. I can’t be entirely sure how many martial arts there, so I had to google and went to a site called, wayofthemartialarts.com as well as using Wikipedia on the “List of martial arts” page. If I missed any from this country, please add it but BE polite. I don’t tolerate rudeness. Also, some of these martial arts may include a weapon (s).

1. Bangladesh -> Butthan, Lathi Khela, Boli Khela

2. Cambodia -> Bokator, Pradal Serey

3. China -> Ba Fa; Ba Ji Quan Kung Fu; Ba Gua Zhang; Ba Ji; Bak Mei Kung Fu; Bai Mei; Bao Quan Kung Fu; Bei Tui; Chang Quan; Cha Quan; Chin Na; Choy Gar; Choy Li Fut; Chuo Jiao; DiSom; Di Tang Quan; Drunken Money; Drunken Fist; Duan Quan; Eagle Claw; Emei Quan; Fanzi; Feng Shou; Five Ancestors; Five Animals aka Ng Ying; Fujian White Crane;��Guzhuangquan; Fu Jow Pai (Tiger Claw Style); Fut Gar (Buddhist Family); Hei Hu Quan (Black Tiger Fist); Hou Quan Kung Fu; Hua Quan; Hung Fut; Hung Ga; Hung Gar; Jow-Ga Kung Fu; Kunlun Quan; Kuntao; Lai Tung Pai; Lama Pai; Lau Gar; Leopard Style; Liu He Ba Fa; Li Gar Quan (Li Family Fist); Long Quan; Luohan Quan (Arhat Fist); Mei Hua Quan (Plum-blossom Fist); Mian Quan (Cotton Fist); Mi Zong; Mizongyi; Mok Gar; Monkey Style; Nan Quan; Northern Praying Mantis Style; Northern Shaolin; Pao Chui; Pi Gua Quan (Chop-Hanging Fist); Pushing hands; San Da (Chinese Kick-boxing); San Soo; Sanshou; Shaolin Kung Fu; Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling); Shui Quan (Water Fist); Snake Style; Southern Dragon Style; Southern Praying Mantis Style; Tai chi; Tan Tui; Tien Shan Pai; Tong Bei Quan; Wing Chun; Wu Dang Quan; Wushu; Xing Yi Quan; Yau Kung Moon; Yi Quan; Yue Jia Quan; Zi Ran Men; Zui Quan

4. India -> Adimurai; Andhra Pradesh; Bal Vidya; Bihar; Dhanurvidya; Gadayuddha; Gatka; Huyen Langlon; Malla Yuddha; Mushtiyuddha; Kalaripayattu; Karnataka; Kashmir; Kerala; Kick-fighting; Maharashtra; Manipur; Nagaland; Niyuddha; Odisha; Pehlwani; Pugilism; Silambam; Vajra-mushti

5. Indonesia -> Caci; Cakalele; Debus; Fitimaen; Kabasaran; Kuntao; Mekare-kare; Pasola; Payuq; Pencak Silat; Silat; Sisemba; Sitobo Lalang Lipa; Tarung Derajat; Tinju

6. Israel -> Kapap; Krav Maga

7. Iran -> Kung Fu To’a

8. Japan ->  Aikidio; Aikijujitsu; Araki Ryu; Bajutsu; Battojutsu; Bojutsu; Bujutsu; Byakuren Kaikan; Daido Juku Kudo; Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu; Enshin Kaikan; Goju-Ryu Karate; Hanbojutsu; Hojojutsu; Iaido; Iaijutsu; Isshin-Ryu; Itto-Ryu; Jojutsu; Judo; Jujutsu; Jukendo; Juttejutsu; Karate; Keijojutsu; Kendo; Kenjutsu; Kickboxing; Kobudo; Koryu; Kyokushin Karate; Kyudo; Kyujutsu; Kyusho Jitsu; Naginatajutsu; Ninjutsu; Nippon Kempo; Niten Ichi-Ryu; Nunchaku Jutsu; Shindo Jinen-Ryu; Shintaido; Shito-Ryu Karate; Shootfighing; Shooto; Shorinji Kempo; Shorin-Ryu Karate; Shotokan Karate; Sojutsu; Spochan; Sumo; Taido; Taiho Jutsu;  Tanto Jutsu; Tessenjutsu; Wado-Ryu Karate; Yabusame; Yamanni-Ryu; Yoseikan Budo

9. Korea -> Gongkwon Yusul; Gungdo; Gungsol; Haidong Gumdo; Han Mu Do; Hapkido; Hwa Rang Do; Korean swordsmanhsip; Korean spears; Kuk Sool Won; Kumdo; Kyuk Too Ki; Sibpalki; Soo Bahk Do;  Ssireum; Taekkyeon/Taekkyon; Taekwondo; Tang Soo Do aka Soo Bahk Do; Subak; Teukgong Moosool; Wong Hwa Do; Yongmudo

10. Laos -> Muay Lao

11. Malaysia -> Silat

12. Mongolia -> Bokh aka Mongolian wrestling

13. Myanmar (Burmese) -> Aka; Bando; Banshay; Lethwei; Naban; Pongyi thaing

14. Philippines -> Dumog; Eskrima; Kino Mutai; Panantukan; Sikaran; Yaw Yan

15. Sri Lanka -> Angampora

16. Thailand -> Krabi–krabong; Lerdrit; Muay boran; Muay Thai; Silat Pattani

17. Turkey -> Matrak; Oil Wrestling; Sayokan

18. Vietnam -> Cuong Nhu; Nam Hong Son; Qwan Ki Do; Tam Qui Khi-Kong; Võ thuật Bình Định/Bình Định Gia; Nhất Nam; Võ Việt Nam aka Võ Đạo of Phạm Văn Tan; Vovinam

[thirdofjune]

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move. Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this. Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored. Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away -- this time, what must we give in exchange? Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was. Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word. You.

— Di Wang Gong Lue - Yu Xiao Lan Shan 《帝王攻略 - 语笑阑珊》 synopsis by pucari.

novel updates: [https://www.novelupdates.com/series/di-wang-gong-lue/]

dwgl donghua available on wetv with the name "the emperor's strategy".

[randomingoftherandomness]

I love you recommending novels, you're the best!!! Quick question: does the novel about Chu Yuan and Duan Bai Yue have a happy ending? Sorry for asking and sorry if you already mentioned it somewhere and i totally missed it! And thank you!!

Sorry sorry sorry, don't mind my previous ask, I just read in the tag that you still have to read that novel too, so please ignore me and my dumbness!!

Haha it’s ok Anon, I just finished Sha Po Lang so I’m still digesting that before I get into anything new. May take me a few days. If you’re keen to follow my reading journey, you can follow my ‘gab reads stuff’ tag 😌 We could scream about it together.

[singmusic]

田一龙 - 用心爱你你不懂 Tian yi long - Yong xin ai ni ni bu dong

也许你该用心去体会我对你的安排; ye xu ni gai yong xin qu ti hui wo dui ni de an pai ; 用了多少心; yong liao duo shao xin ; 你怎么不明白; ni zen me bu ming bai ; 谁能躲的过上天对爱的安排; shui neng duo de guo shang tian dui ai de an pai ; 用了太多心才被责怪; yong liao tai duo xin cai bei ze guai ; 失去这段爱也不要太过悲哀; shi qu zhe duan ai ye bu yao tai guo bei ai ; 感情不是美丽的游戏; gan qing bu shi mei li de you xi ; 爱的太认真就别怕被伤害; ai de tai ren zhen jiu bie pa bei shang hai ; 别回忆那些缠绵的对白; bie hui yi na xie chan mian de dui bai ; 越用心爱你用心疼你你却偏要走; yue yong xin ai ni yong xin teng ni ni que pian yao zou ; 非要等到撕心裂肺了才懂; fei yao deng dao si xin lie fei liao cai dong ; 感情的世界不是真心就能够拥有; gan qing de shi jie bu shi zhen xin jiu neng gou yong you ; 给你的在多你永远都不懂; gei ni de zai duo ni yong yuan du bu dong ; 越用心爱你用心疼你你却偏放手; yue yong xin ai ni yong xin teng ni ni que pian fang shou ; 相爱了几年的人各奔天涯; xiang ai liao ji nian de ren ge ben tian ya ; 爱情终究是一程美丽寂寞的旅途; ai qing zhong jiu shi yi cheng mei li ji mo de lv tu ; 走到了终点不能在停留; zou dao liao zhong dian bu neng zai ting liu ; 失去这段爱也不要太过悲哀; shi qu zhe duan ai ye bu yao tai guo bei ai ; 感情不是美丽的游戏; gan qing bu shi mei li de you xi ; 爱的太认真就别怕被伤害; ai de tai ren zhen jiu bie pa bei shang hai ; 别回忆那些缠绵的对白; bie hui yi na xie chan mian de dui bai ; 越用心爱你用心疼你你却偏要走; yue yong xin ai ni yong xin teng ni ni que pian yao zou ; 非要等到撕心裂肺了才懂; fei yao deng dao si xin lie fei liao cai dong ; 感情的世界不是真心就能够拥有; gan qing de shi jie bu shi zhen xin jiu neng gou yong you ; 给你的在多你永远都不懂; gei ni de zai duo ni yong yuan du bu dong ; 越用心爱你用心疼你你却偏放手; yue yong xin ai ni yong xin teng ni ni que pian fang shou ; 相爱了几年的人各奔天涯; xiang ai liao ji nian de ren ge ben tian ya ; 爱情终究是一程美丽寂寞的旅途; ai qing zhong jiu shi yi cheng mei li ji mo de lv tu ; 走到了终点不能在停留; zou dao liao zhong dian bu neng zai ting liu ; 走到了终点不能在停留; zou dao liao zhong dian bu neng zai ting liu ;

[delicioussshame]

DWGL soulmate AU. Yes. Spoilers up to chapter 41.

When he had been younger, Chu Yuan had believed he would marry his soulmate when he was older.

After all, as the heir of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue had the necessary status to marry a member of the imperial family. The marriage would strengthen the bond between the already powerful Xi Nan manor and the capital. The late emperor Chu had believed it might even counter the influence of the Liu clan.

But as the late emperor struggled to contain their rise and finally picked Chu Yuan over Chu Xiang, everything changed.

The imperial family always wore something over their wrist. It was traditional. No one could know who the other half of their soul was. It would have been too risky. After all, they couldn’t be expected to make a love match and protect their soulmate themselves. Only if they were lucky enough to have the name of a member of the nobility on their wrist might they take whoever they were bound to by fate as a concubine or a low-ranking spouse. If the person was low-born, they were kept as far from the palace as possible. The imperial family couldn’t afford such weak points.  

Some of Chu Yuan’s ancestors had their soulmate assassinated. It was preferable to them being used as chess pieces against them, they said.

Chu Yuan’s soulmate was not the kind that could be eliminated such. No, Xi Nan King could not be taken out without causing great unrest in the country.

But their bond wasn’t to be. Duan Bai Yue was too powerful, too well-known to have the wild heart of a wolf, too feared. The people would say he would overthrow his own spouse, or use him to his ends. He would stop the emperor from marrying a woman that would give him an heir, or force on him a lady whose loyalty would be his first, the emperor’s second. That he would feed him bugs with unpredictable effects, leaving him sickened or addled. Not to mention that favouring the already influential Xi Nan so much would destabilise the balance of power Chu Yuan tried so hard to maintain. It couldn’t be allowed. They needed to stay apart, for the state of Chu.

Or so Chu Yuan had thought.

Duan Bai Yue didn’t see it that way. He refused to stay away, always lured to his side no matter how little Chu Yuan encouraged him. All that despite having supported his claim to the throne and thus cutting them both from their easy way out of imperial expectations. Really, who could have blamed Chu Yuan for revealing his soulmate’s identity and holing up in Xi Nan manor if he had been deposed?

Instead Duan Nai Tue kept showing up, solving Chu Yuan’s difficulties and only demanding land in return. He never pushed Chu Yuan too far, never insisted on receiving what a commoner would consider his right, access to his own soulmate.

Oh, he wanted. Chu Yuan could feel it in his deliberately light-hearted banter. He could feel it in his gaze, lingering over him. He could feel it in the way his hands reached for him only to falter or limit themselves to the lightest caress. He could even feel in the way he held him to bed, embrace warm but body rigid, unflinching despite Chu Yuan being so close, too close.

He understood, of course. Once they passed that threshold, once he permitted Duan Bai Yue to speak aloud the words they both needed to hear, to kiss him, to hold his naked body, how were they supposed to move on? How was Chu Yuan supposed to pick a wife when he knew the feeling of Duan Bai Yue’s skin on his, when he was already pushing that unpleasant task back and back? How was Duan Bai Yue?

So he didn’t permit him, them, any of it. He persisted against Duan Bai Yue’s constant, gentle assault, like the sea eroding the coast.

And if he sometimes failed, well, even the Son of Heaven was human. After days upon days of endless work, of crushing responsibility, of insomnia, the presence of his soulmate was like a balm for his wounds.

Chu Yuan tried to forgive himself for it, despite it being alien to his nature. The emperor couldn’t be forgiven for failing his duties. The people paid for his mistakes. So he worked and worked and worked and didn’t think of Duan Bai Yue away from the capital, on another mission for his sake in Cang Nan Province. He drank the medicine he received from Xiao Jin to forget how lonely and cold his bed was. He had the plum tree moved again.

And when Duan Bai Yue showed up again, too soon and yet far too late, Chu Yuan rejected him again for both their sake while, once more, his heart lurched at the sight of what he couldn’t have and yet desperately wanted.

[autumn-worm]

Di Wang Gong Lue/The Emperor's Strategy Audio Drama Preview

English subbed preview for season 1 of one of my favourite audio dramas. I'll be posting an episode weekly on Saturdays. Let's hope my motivation lasts long enough for all 12 episodes lol.

Originally found here: https://m.missevan.com/search?s=%E5%B8%9D%E7%8E%8B%E6%94%BB%E7%95%A5

All episodes are free so if you know mandarin please go check it out it!

The audio drama is based off of the novel of the same name which you can read in English here: https://pucari.dreamwidth.org/2561.html

NOVEL DESCRIPTION:

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move.

Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this. 

Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored.

Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away -- this time, what must we(1) give in exchange? 

Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was. 

Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word. 

You.

Notes:

(1): Chu Yuan is using the royal 'we' here.

It's very good. Trust me.

Here's a google drive link if anyone actually wants to download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/147VNoOwh10zUSGWrHevPZzmjtnHHlVw0/view?usp=drivesdk

[dramaddict-and-proud-of-it]

The Twin Flowers Legend

Year : 2020 | Country : CN | Nb of episodes: 60

My rate: 7/10

Synopsis :

Hua Mujin grew up during the chaotic era of the five dynasties and the ten states. As a child, she and her younger twin sister Hua Jinxiu were sold as slaves to the powerful Yuan Family. They are sent on the road with three other children - Yu Feiyan, Song Minglei, Yao Biying and the five take a vow of friendship to always care for each other.

In order to thrive in their new environment, Hua Mujin willingly throws herself to hard labor to build a better future for her brothers and sisters. She uses the techniques inherited from her father and relies on her intelligence to help the Yuan Family rise to glory.

Four men with extraordinary talents and position make a mark in her colorful life - Song Minglei whom she looks up to as an older brother, the pure and loving Yuan Feijue, the androgynous Duan Yuerong and the love of her life, Yuan Feibai.

 Main cast :

Mao Xiao Hui as Hua Mu Jin

Kai Xuan as Hua Jin Xiu

Yu Xiao Tong as Yuan Fei Bai / Sima Jun

Kenny Kwan as Duan Yue Rong

Chen Zheng Yang as Song Ming Lei

Huang Jue as Yuan Qing Jiang

Yang Yu Ting as Madam Lian

Qiang Chuan as Yuan Fei Qing

Yuan Zi Yi as Yuan Fei Yan

Yang Yi as Yao Bi Ying

Zhang Yi Long as Yu Fei Yan

Li Yan Ming as Qi Fang

 My thoughts on this drama :

Talk about a surprise! I recently found this one on Youtube, without searching, it was a suggestion given to me after a few Wuxia MV… And know what, I really liked it! The characters, story, costumes and cinematography are on point. As it often happens, some actors overplayed their character, but nothing so bad as to make me drop it. I'm still bathing in a major pool of second lead syndrome feels right know to be honest. YueRong deserves better. The only tiny thing that bothered me is the purple / red contact lenses they used for three of the characters. I know modifying eye colors in post production is complicated and time consuming, but it would have look much better. The lenses really look fake (it's not too bad for the red ones). I liked the concept of a group of bonded friends that end up separating due to life choices and situations. It was sometimes heartbreaking to see some characters going down on a darker and darker path, without a thought for redemption even though they were given chance and chance again. It made me despise them and pity them both. We are dealing with Wuxia here, so expect some completely out of this world ridiculous names for medicine, techniques, and moves. But most of all, enjoy! It's worth it.

 A Favorite ?

NO

[yuziyou]

Di Wang Gong Lue donghua - ending theme

梅花飘 诉离殇 | The plum blossoms drift Telling of departure and death

泪彷徨 如今对空房 | Indecisive tears now facing an empty room

夜飘香 思绪渺茫 | In the night, fragrance drifts With uncertain feelings

睡梦里 静静对望 | In the sleeping dreams, looking at each other silently

孟婆鬼酒在怀中 徘徊激荡 | Meng Po's wine is in the cup Hesitating yet impulsive

独酌一口 解忧伤 | Alone, I drink a mouthful Relieving my grief

梅树下誓言勿忘 | The promise under the plum tree is not forgotten

梵星石 天辰砂 | Feng Xin stone, Heavenly Cinnabar

传递手间暖心房 | Passes into the hands and warms the heart

清风起 对天唱 | The cool breeze rises singing to the sky

为何与君独惆怅 | Why is the monarch alone with melancholy

梅花开 梅花开 | The plum blossoms bloom The plum blossoms boom

梅花开在天地下 | The plum blossoms bloom everywhere

来世也伴你身旁 | In the next life, I will also be by your side

lyrics translation by pucari 

[dornishsphinx]

Kiss Meme: 26 unlucky numbers

(WELL THIS GOT LONGER THAN INTENDED FOR A PROMPT FIC)

26. jealous kiss

Xianfu wasn’t usually one to care about her regulars, but not many of her regulars’ visits resulted in a handsomely paid night off where he’d be content with nothing more than a song from her pipa and her presence at his side while he slept.

His arm was held possessively around her tonight, though, and it was so uncharacteristic she couldn’t help feeling concerned, and by extension, wary of the man sitting in front of them. He was handsome, dressed in xuan duan style, with a pleasant face and quiet demeanour. She recognised him from last time too, and though he’d made a less distressing impression than his terrifying, disruptive companion—that one had made her so afraid she’d scampered away—he still seemed dangerous. His reputation would do that: binder of the Heavenly Demon King, the new leader of the most famous sect in the world, the Xuan Su Sword, Yue Qingyuan.

Shen Qingqiu, on the other hand, was just a person. He had become something like a friend over the years of their arrangement, and so the arm didn’t bother her; she believed full-heartedly that if she gently pushed him away, he would acquiesce, but she also knew him well enough to understand it would mean never seeing him again, anywhere but between the clouds. (This was the first visit in months after the head disciple of Bai Zhan had ripped him from her bed and mocked him for his lechery in front of the entire district, after all.)

“I’m surprised to see Yue-shixiong is still here,” he said, after a good few minutes had passed in silence. “It’s a big day tomorrow, and I hear that such surroundings as these are not worthy of his sect.”  

The sect leader’s eyes immediately sprang away from where they had been resting on Shen Qingqiu’s collar, like a startled rabbit. He had not looked at a single woman save Xianfu since arriving, and only then in an intense, assessing way when Shen Qingqiu had pulled her into his side. There was no harm or ill-will in his eyes, but somehow it had still felt like they were stabbing her.

“It’s Qingqiu-shidi’s big day, not my own.”

Shen Qingqiu waved his cup of huangjiu in an off-hand gesture. Some of it caught on the sides and dripped down the sides and onto his hand. The Sect Leader’s eyes were drawn back, and they tracked a droplet as it streaked down and into his sleeve.

“Of course it’s not yours. How greedy can you be, to want two? It’s mine.” He paused. “And everyone else’s.”

The Sect Leader opened his mouth to speak, but Shen Qingqiu took another drink, his gaze in completely in a different direction as he continued on.

“I told you that if the sect’s name is kept out of it, there’s no harm, and yet here you are, ready to lecture me yet again.”

Xianfu thought that the “leave me alone” was implied, but the Sect Leader didn’t seem to pick up on it. Instead, for some reason, when his eyes lifted back from Shen Qingqiu’s throat, his eyes had turned warmer, and a touch of hope flowed into them like ink into water.

“My apologies if I’m annoying Qingqiu-shidi.”

“You always do,” said Shen Qingqiu, but the Sect Leader’s eyes gleamed at hearing it. Xianfu couldn’t understand why. Shen Qingqiu shifted, and the cup tilted slightly as he did. This time, Yue Qingyuan plucked up the courage to point it out.

“Qingqiu-shidi,” he said, “Your sleeve.”

He reached out, but Shen Qingqiu snatched his arm back from across the table like Yue Qingyuan’s hand was a flame ready to catch onto the soaked patch and burn him alive. The Sect Leader’s face fell, but then he composed himself.

“I’m not here to lecture you. It’s just that we won’t necessarily be seeing each other at the spars now that we’ve ascended, and I—”  

“Good,” said Shen Qingqiu. “Your voice was irritating. Always jabbering.”

The slight slur to his words was more evident now, to both of them. Yue Qingyuan’s face twisted in concern.

“Qingqiu-shidi really ought to refrain from drinking,” he said. “The others are already in seclusion, readying themselves for the ceremony.”

This close, she could feel Shen Qingqiu’s back stiffen.

“Is that an order?” His tone made very clear that he did not intend on following it even if it was. He continued on before the Sect Leader could answer. “You needn’t worry about me disrupting the official ascension. And even if I’m a lecher ready to drink myself to death, what business is it of yours? You don’t have the power to replace me as your second. Only Shizun does. Even if I die, the position will just be left open until the next generation.”

The Sect Leader’s expression fell even further, like he’d tripped and fallen from a cliff to discover his fall had been broken by some harmless creature.

“I would never—”

Xianfu watched in fascination as one of the most famous cultivators in the world shrank under the flash of his shidi’s eyes, all courage deserting his frame.

“…Is the well-being of his subordinates not a Sect Leader’s business?”

Before Xianfu knew what was happening, she found herself tugged forward and onto his lap. After so many nights spent innocently together, the way Shen Qingqiu’s hands sat on her seemed to her more like a child clinging to his mother, but from across the table, the impression must have been very different. The Sect Leader’s expression froze and, for a moment, she had the distinct impression that the he was about to launch himself across the table and yank one of them away from the other. Instead, his fists balled in his black robes as he sat, rooted to his chair.

“You really ought to leave, Yue-shixiong. Lust will impair your cultivation, isn’t that what you said? Do you really want yours becoming as twisted like mine?” He leant into Xianfu’s hair, but his eyes were fixed across the table. “Or do you think you’re too good to fall?”

The Sect Leader stared at him, with a guilty expression. Then, his gaze fell, and he wrung his hands.

“Nobody is too good to fall,” he said, sounding very much like he was parroting some aged master, before closing his eyes. “You blame me for all that’s happened. Deservedly so. But you’ve made it to the top even after everything.” It sounded like the ‘I’m proud of you’ of a man too scared of what the reaction to those explicit words might be.

Shen Qingqiu stared at his superior, and then back down at his huangjiu, and drained the rest of it. Yue Qingyuan—and Xianfu internally—winced.

His voice was pleasant when he next spoke.

“Zhangmen-shixiong granted me the opportunity to show off my perseverance. Why shouldn’t I be grateful?” He gently moved Xianfu off his lap and stood. She slipped away towards the stairs. “Safe travels back up the mountain.”

Yue Qingyuan’s gaze followed her with a frown, before realisation hit.

“You can’t mean to—”  

Whatever emotion was truly behind the words, it sounded like disgust. It sparked a fire in Shen Qingqiu as he wrenched himself away, setting his eyes ablaze.

“And why shouldn’t I?”

“I forbid it,” said Yue Qingyuan, before he seemed to realise what he’d said and looked shocked at himself.

“You forbid it?” said Shen Qingqiu. His mouth transformed from a slack surprise, to an incensed clench of his teeth, and then to a hard, incredulous smile. “You forbid it?” His expression turned uglier than any he’d ever let Xianfu see. “As though you have the right to forbid me from anything.”

Yue Qingyuan let go of him as though only just feeling the fire he’d kindled, but Shen Qingqiu seized back onto him.

“You think you’re better than me,” said Shen Qingqiu. “You think you’re so untouchable. You think nobody can ruin you because you’re not weak.”

He leant in close to Yue Qingyuan. He wasn’t used to drinking, and his head felt oddly like it was being touched all over, but by nothing. Yue Qingyuan looked like an animal that no longer trusted its instincts; or rather, someone told for years on end that lust for women would impair his progress, and who had quietly judged others for such things, not understanding why such a thing would be an issue for others until this moment.

Shen Qingqiu pulled him down. The kiss was a messy thing, because there was supposed to be nothing in it but rage and ruination, spurred by envy of the man who would always be one step ahead of him and jealousy for a position that could have been his, a position Yue Qingyuan had never wanted with the ferocity he did. 

Shen Qingqiu was going to become Qing Jing Peak Lord, and he would never rise any higher, or ever be his own true master.

Trying to ruin him was useless, of course, because it was Yue Qingyuan. Any attempts to dirty him or make him lust after the thing he’d created would result in a bemused smile; the heavens had never considered his broken promises the kind of sins that could ruin his ascent to immortality, while everything Shen Jiu did damned him further.

“I was just as good as you,” he said. Before you left me with him, and he ruined me down to my bones. Yue Qingyuan blinked in confusion at the shaking rage, seeming to have forgotten where he was, before his face fell into concern.

“Xiao—”

“Don’t forget what it is you cost me.”

Laughing, even if there would be no humour in it, would make Xiao Jiu even angrier. So, he didn’t, even though the idea warranted it.

As though he ever could.