#general pei junior

[freyadragonlord]

I could write a fairly long list of reasons why Pei Ming SucksTM, but still I cannot help but feel a little bad for the guy.

Despite all of his bullshit, he has always managed to preserve some semblance of a moral code, and he never really crossed the line... Meanwhile, all the people he is close with? Out there committing the Most Atrocities Ever!

Like...

Rong Guang: Bro what if we, ahah, what if we usurped the throne and put you in charge?? Pei Ming: ... Bro what the fuck??? Xuan Ji: Beloved, I will betray my country for you!! Here's all of our secret strategies and plans!! Pei Ming: ??? No thanks! Pei Xiu: I may have been killing random humans for centuries to save my ghost lover... Pei Ming: Junior!! I believed in you!!! Shi Wudu: That's just humans. I actually stole the Fate of a future god and exchanged it with my brother's, ashtag #NoRegrets Pei Ming: ....... What the fuck is wrong with everybody??? Is it just me and Ling Wen now????? Ling Wen: ... Pei Ming: ....... please don't tell me Ling Wen: So remember that Very Cursed object we have in storage? Pei Ming: For Fuck's Sake

[junwusbridge]

General Pei Junior in his exile (flashback)

[raddestrose]

Someone come and save Pei Xiu, poor boy’s been going through it

[piedoctorcow]

It’s awful bold for Nan Feng to call the Pei pair/Xuan Ji weirdos when he’s pretty weird himself. After all, he is Mr. Screams when hit by Shi Qingxuan’s boobs and father of the jankiest baby award winner.

[platinumrosetail]

Yandere Hualian x reader.

Warning: In the fem reader's first life, she was the younger sister of General Pei Ming. She lived as a beautiful young woman loved by her brother, without caring that he was a womanizer. Then, according to Pei Ming's ascension story, when he was accused of treason and broke his sword. However, the reader remained in the mortal realm and was unjustly executed. After 800 years she is reincarnated again, but as a humble traveler, there she meets Xie Lian and Huan cheng (you decide how) after many adventures together. He then reunites with his brother, although at first he does not remember him, although Pei Ming insists that he was once his brother. Little by little she will remember her past life. In the end he has a relationship with Huan cheng and Xie lian, and when he remembers his previous life, he sadly dies, but some time later he is reincarnated again.

(I based this request on some Chinese dramas, thank you for accepting it.)

Oooh interesting, also my first heaven officials blessing/tgcf request yay!

Warning: noob author, female reader, yandere characters, and others.

Characters: hualian (hua cheng and xie lian).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were the little sister to pei Ming, you didn’t mind his womanizing ways but you always scold him to be careful as one of those woman he woo’s could seek revenge when he breaks her heart. Though not many gods knew about you as you had died a little after your brother ascended to godhood, falsely accused and executed over a misunderstanding along with how you were the little sister to pei Ming so they thought you had a part in the rebellion even though you were innocent, your brother couldn’t save you as he had only learned after your death that you were in trouble and it was already too late to save you.

Pei Ming has hope that you might reincarnated or turned into a ghost and he just couldn’t find you good enough. He has searched high and low for you, and when he gets frustrated he usually woo women’s hearts and release his frustration by having sex with them and leaving afterwards to continue searching for you after the stress and frustration is out of his body.

Pei Ming was right to think you reincarnated though it was only after 800 years had you finally reincarnated this time as a young female and humble traveler, each time you have left a place he would arrive missing you each time as you have never stayed in one place for too long which resulted you in meeting a nice young man by the name of xie lian who is a humble cultivator also traveling. You soon start having a crush on xie lian as he is such a kind person so it was no surprise when you started developing feelings for the young man.

On your journey with xie lian you meet many interesting people and fight against some enemies as well, though even when you can fight it’s not as good as two junior officials from the heavens and your crush; xie lian, fighting though xie lian always seems to be there for you no matter what and can protect you and your weak spots which warms your heart and love for him.

You soon met hua cheng when you had became a bride bait to lure out the ghost groom or also known as ghost bride as you all soon found out that the ones behind the disappearance of brides was a woman one who shared history with pei Ming, who you find familiar in name but can’t place where it was familiar. Pei jr saw you and noted to tell his father about you.

You later met San lang when he was with you while you and xie lian was riding a cart together to get back home to your little shrine in piqu village, later spending the night there with you and xie lian before the two junior officials came by again with another mission to banyue(?) pass. Many months later and many adventures later you, San lang who you later found out was hua cheng, and xie lian who you also found out later was a god, started a relationship together.

Pei Ming had soon asked xie lian if he could meet you as you very well could be his sister who finally reincarnated, xie lian at first was worried that pei Ming would flirt with you but soon found out that you were pei Ming’s reincarnated sister and let pei Ming meet you though with a subtle warning on if pei Ming hurt you he and hua cheng would show no mercy even if he was your past life brother. You were skeptical about the situation between you and pei as you had no memories and there wasn’t really any proof and pei Ming could have gotten the wrong person but after meeting pei Ming you kept getting memories of your past life but before you could celebrate on finding out the pei Ming is actually your brother you were sadly killed by a jealous woman who had mistaken you for pei Ming’s lover instead of sister.

The woman was soon tortured and killed by hua cheng, xie lian and pei Ming, thankfully the woman was a ghost so xie lian and pei Ming didn’t get in trouble on killing her if she was human, and even if she was it would be easy to hide that fact considering who the three were. Hua cheng and xie lian are now on the hunt for your next life with pei Ming as the two both love you and won’t let you go even after you die and pei had just found you he won’t lose your next life like he did last time which means he gives up on womanizing if it meant you won’t get hurt like you did last time. You won’t ever escape them and no one will ever take you away from them now.

(A/n: hope yall liked it!! I decided on making pei Ming a platonic yandere as I thought it fit plus since xie lian and hua cheng were already yandere i thought why not him too? lol anyway hope yall have a wonderful day/evening/night!!)

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S2 Ep 6

Previously on TGCF…

This is gonna be epic!!!

Cw: Past homicide

-That’s Yong’An in its heyday 

-Sparrows

-Fang Xin

-It’s Qianqiu’s assistant from Eps 1-2!

-Young Qianqiu is literally me in my Freshman year of High School during the first semester

-His butterfly shaped mask

-Writing the Laozi 10 times has the energy of making a kid stay in class and write a sentence over and over on the chalkboard till they’ve learned their lesson (Literally every Simpsons opening)

-He doubled it

-Imagine if Piandao talked to Sokka like that when beginning his sword training

-Man wonder who voices Young!Qianqiu?

-I mean the move could also get you hurt if you’re careless

-This is the Ancient Chinese version of the trolley problem, same analogy though

-I like to think this advice was taught to Zuko and Sokka when they were learning swordsmanship

-See, trolley problem esque

-Good advice to not intervene

-More dead bodies

-Oh no and that was his Dad

-That’s when the survivor’s guilt set in

-I can see why Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are perfect for each other, they both have a freaking high kill count

-Just like when Bruce Wayne lost his parents

-What did he say?

-He’s not a monster

-That was during his second ascenscion

-That’s gonna be a bad outcome

-“I wish to be stripped of my divinity” Literally every fangirl’s brain drifted to something else when he said that.  Just look at Kictor and Stitch

-Doesn’t seem like he earned it at all

-He just wants to get out of the drama

-If there was a modern AU, you know Shi Qingxuan would make an awesome and wealthy defense attorney

-There’s the Amongus quote

-Dang no answer

-There’s Prosecutor Pei Ming, that’s a good nickname.

-He made a solid point

-That’s the result of the Fang Xin trial with XL on house arrest and a restraining order from Taihua

-He made another enemy

-Aaaa pickle jar, better believe it Qingxuan

-How is she going to get air???

-That upset Qingxuan, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing

-The interior looks hollow in Xie Lian’s palace

-That’s coming out of Qingxuan’s pockets

-He deserves the apology hun

-He’s doing it, he’s doing the iconic old time Put your head between your arms against a flat surface like a Disney Princess!

-He still has the dice

-It’s snake eyes!

-Hi Mu Qing

-Stick it to Jun Wu, Mu Qing

-I know right, it did NOT seem like a healing spell at all

-Wonder if I can conceptualize a similar healing potion for TOH MTC…?

-You just had to ask him that didn’t you?

-Hi Feng Xin

-A guest who invited himself inside

-Welp he really was honest

-Seriously, Mu Qing you couldn’t have felt bad for his house arrest

-Xie Lian’s trying to mediate again

-Mu Qing’s response had bite to it

-One Punch!!!

-Fist Fight!  Fist Fight!

-“You’re a hypocrite, you’ve always looked down on me, but you’re not better than I am!!!”  Oh my gods, Lucien Dodge freaking delivered!!!

-“Enough…” Oh man, Xie Lian’s emotions

-The Junior Officials witnessing the Generals fisticuffs:

Feng Xin!  Feng Xin!  Feng Xin!

Mu Qing!  Mu Qing!  Mu Qing!

-“Did it really have to come to violence?” Yeah it pretty much did. - Iroh, dragon of the West, the Waterbending scroll

-Mu Qing: Fine I’ll break your face

Feng Xin: Not if I break yours first!  It’s too late to beg for mercy!  

That’s what I translated to the best of my skills during Xie Lian’s internal monologue

-He’s like a parent that’s disappointed with his two kids constantly at odd

-Don’t worry, hon what’s really gonna help them is Couples’ therapy, and I’d hate to be that therapist

-A dramatic sound effect!

-I can’t wait to write the Gaang’s reaction to the Wraith Butterflies

-That was a cool shield spell

-I love how the butterflies are easily dodging Xie Lian, but are charging toward Mu Qing and Feng Xin to scare the sh*t outta them

-He’s gonna hold one of the butterflies, he’s holding one of the butterflies, yeah too late man AND HE’S NUZZLING THE WINGTIPS WITH HIS NOSE Cue keyboard smash! WAE TESDHGFYFJ. RYGJ GUFTDRSSDFAEGRRESVGTGTRS DFGSTRWG EIEEEIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!! I always love this joke, no matter how old it’s gonna get in my reaction posts.

-Yeah he’s just going

-The real reason this episode took so long to air last year was that the animators had to get the waist snatch scene past censorship to spite their censor companies for not having Xie Lian fall into Hua Cheng’s lap in Eps 4-5.

-Xie Lian: Hello Again, Literally me: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! (This is the same noise Eleanor Shellstrop made when she was gifted a Shrimp Dispenser in The Good Place)

-They’re just backing up

-You two had one job!  Looking at you Feng Xin and Mu Qing!  I see ya

-He’s just tugging his sleeve as they’re walking

-Man, it’s like Hua Cheng took Little John’s advice from Robin Hood 1973 to “Climb the palace walls.  *Tosses out Gross Carrot* Sweep him off his feet, carry him off in style.” - Little John, Disney Robin Hood (1973) (Best Disney film hands down, freaking fight me if you dare)

-That must’ve hurt his ears

-Y’all had one job

-Feng Xin is just worried

-*Hua Cheng has entered the chat*  Like a goat!

-The subtle eye contact and expression he shared with Xie Lian!

-Some of the 33 gods he defeated are also in the chat

-That shook the veils

-Won’t that be pain in his mind?

-Looks like he saved you yeah

-A flashback from Ep 5!

-Touchstarved!  Touchstarved!  (Try prying this headcanon from my cold dead grip!)

-And here you’re about to see Howard Wang’s best performance in the series so far

-Best apology I’ve ever heard in media

-It healed that fast

-Petition to have James Cheek voice an iconic lead character in a Shakespeare play?

-Aw, they were actually both at fault for what happened

-You can actually feel Hua Cheng’s Shame

-E Ming: Noooo…. You hurt him!  I hurt him!  We hurt him! AAAHHH!  *sobs*

Season 2 has fed us once more!  I’m still busy with writing the Scrap Immortal and the Avatar.  For writing inspiration, I’ll be busy rewatching Avatar:  The Last Airbender

[wrens-versus-the-world]

Just a thought...

So you know all of those stories where the mc gets isekaied into the body of the main character, or the main antagonist (i.e "not your typical reincarnation story") or something cliche like that??

If they're the the antagonist they try their damndest to change the plot, be good, etc.

What if we had something like this for TGCF (heaven's official blessing)?????

Like with Ming Yi (earth master) and Shi Qingxuan???

Okay, now spoilers down below ;)

What if, hear me out, the mc dies, and then gets reincarnated into TGCF as Shi Qingxuan. Post banyue kingdom arc, but before ghost city arc. So, when Pei Ming is pissed at Xie Lian for general pei junior getting banished.

I feel like Ming Yi would immidiately notice something was wrong when 'SQX' is silent. Maybe he wouldn't find it too off putting at first, but what would happen after he may be put off by.

Imagine the MC was an avid Shi Wudu (water master) hater, and a hardcore He Xuan advocate (me lol). And they decide to take advantage of the large crowd gathered in the Palace of Divine Might...to publicly ask for Jun Wu to strip them of their divinity because it did not rightfully belong to them?!

Then the mc takes it one further, admitting to all of their 'brother's' crimes, and how he too deserves to have his divinity stripped from him.

not to mention the fact that the mc would totally explain exactly what Shi Wudu did. How he switched He Xuan's fate with their own (whilst leaving out who He Xuan is currently, only mentioning how he lost his fiance, parents, and his little sister).

The room would be completely silent, He xuan would be extremely surprised. (who wouldnt lol??)

Idk what exactly would happen, but at some point the mc would change their appearance to match their actual look (bc heavenly officials can change their form). and *have a without-revealing-anyone's-identity-because-that-would-be-too-easy conversation before the mc leaves*

Shi wudu gets stripped of his divinity (b/c he deserves it), the mc leaves on their own.

Maybe a small time skip?? The mc and He xuan meet again, and a romance forms between the two (they both share their identity), and they live happily ever after... or something IDRK (Im trying to cope from the blackwater arc lmao)

I'm not too sure if this'll be anything, but if anyone would like please feel free to write this (or some adaptation giving credit lol:D)

[sophia-sol]

Time for monthly recs again!!! a delicious selection for you from the month of April. This post is my tgcf recs:

flew like a moth to you, by Euphorion

- space au featuring ling wen/yushi huang, HELLO

- yushi huang's deliberate mysteriousness, and the way she uses it to flirt and get the upper hand with ling wen!

- ling wen enjoying having something to research that's for FUN instead of for work!

- the interesting development of the setting, and ways the characters and backstories have been tweaked to fit!

- LOVED IT.

- 4k words in length

these are the streets of favour, by bloodletter

- a fanfic about ling wen and pei ming, written for mxtx remix as a remix of my ling wen fic

- SHRIEKING. FLAILING. CLAWING AT MY FACE IN DELIGHT. I am so honoured that my fic could inspire this piece of absolute perfection

- the dynamics between Ling Wen and Pei Ming throughout are soooooo good. the affection and the insults combined, the way selfishness is manifested differently in each of them and the way it does and doesn't affect their connection

- ling wen nonsexually domming pei ming!

- the vibes of three tumours are so perfectly rancid!

- and the unofficial junior official chats!

- the way heaven in general thinks about ling wen's takeover!

- I'm just. blown away. this fic is EVERYTHING to me.

- 2k words in length

joy thief this human heart, by tshirt

- hello impeccable gothic vibes beefleaf

- also, doing great things with gender. also, contains MUFFING. (thank u Fucking Trans Women for teaching me about muffing)

- this is so beefleaf. I love them both so much <3

- 2k words in length

A Lose-Lose Situation, by eggfish

- omggg this is exactly the kind of dynamics I love to see between Feng Xin and Mu Qing during the Xianle era

- fx and xl are so SWEET together and fx and mq are so....united in their mutual disdain for each other and how they're connected with each other

- and how sex with each other doesn't actually change any part of that for fengqing; they have a good time having hatesex, they still hate each other, they're connected forever via their hatred for each other and their mutual love of xl, and their mutual inability to understand /how/ the other approaches their love for xl

- it's just so good!!!!

- 3k words in length

Only The Sword Remaining, by biasto_bias

- a compellingly painful fic about xie lian testing the limits of wu ming's devotion, leading to a sexual encounter that neither of them feel great about

- it's so very them for that period in their history: xie lian trying to push wu ming away because he thinks wu ming is better off elsewhere but doing it by being horrible to him, and wu ming feeling an awful mix of self-loathing and heady excitement for getting to be touched this way by dianxia

- 1k words in length

- thanks to roland for the rec that brought this fic to my attention!

talking to strangers, by bloodletter

- beefleaf prior to the black water arc

- sqx and her bff ming-xiong go to a party together! sqx explains to the hostess why ming-xiong is such a good friend, and it's definitely not about sex!

- they absolutely do have really good sex sometimes though. including at this party.

- the dynamics between sqx and hx are soooo good

- and ditto sqx having a great time being a beautiful woman at multiple after-parties, after the mid-autumn banquet

- what a delightful little gem of a fic

- 2k words in length

[yeliuxi]

Jing Qi & the sable: Why this little guy has more relevance than just being poisonous and cute

I was talking about Jing Qi & the sable with @geneticcatalyst on this post here and I had some thoughts (and feelings) about them

When Jing Qi is lamenting about human troubles, he says:

这人，要操心的事情太多，譬如父母兄弟，亲朋好友, 妻儿老小, 每日应酬也应酬不过来, 总有千千万万的诱惑叫人陷进去

People have too many things to worry about, like parents and brothers, friends and family, wife, children, elders, and juniors, and social niceties upon social niceties to take care of every day. There are always thousands of temptations for people to fall to.

All the things that Jing Qi lists here are things he has struggled with since the beginning of the story. He has filial obligations to his father, must upkeep his friendship with Helian Yi while keeping him at a distance, and has a lot of pressure on him to take a wife and have sons. He has no brothers who can pass down the position of yixing wang to their children in his place. He must keep up respect and facades for Helian Pei, Helian Zhao, and Great General Feng, as they are his elders. He has recently taken a junior, Liang Jiuxiao, under his wing, and is now, in part, responsible for him.

And the temptations? Napping. I say this unironically.

When Jing Qi wakes up in the 7th life, he wants nothing more than to fool around until his death, just bid his time until his karmic ties can be resolved. It would be very easy to do, considering the favorability that (not) "keeping in his own lane" gets him in the 7th life. Helian Pei dotes on Jing Qi even more than his own sons. He's his 半个儿子, as Helian Zhao puts it. (But also this is the same scene when he's calling himself Jing Qi's da-ge and saying greasy stuff like 北渊，你跟大哥说说 [Beiyuan, tell your da-ge]. Barf.)

But... "keeping in his own lane" also means that, without his interference, the nation will be in danger of falling into the greedy and violent hands of Helian Yi's brothers. Even if Jing Qi lazed around for a decade, he would inevitably have to deal with the much more unpleasant fallout.

It's kind of a no-free-lunch thing. Jing Qi has not earned his right to laze around if he ignores his duties to his nation, and will suffer consequences for it. So, Jing Qi resists temptations, upholds daily social niceties, appeases his elders, and tries to keep Helian Yi as the crown prince. And, in the end, he is rewarded: in making sure Helian Yi ascends to the throne, he now no longer has to worry about negative fallout, and can go with Wuxi to Nanjiang, where he will live a peaceful and happy life.

He slowly divests himself of all these worries by the end of the novel. He still has responsibilities, but suffers less for them. The first to go is his obligation to take a wife and have an heir. This is also, in a way, a direct reward of Jing Qi fulfilling his duties to his nation. But... Jing Qi has always been fond of children, and wanted some of his own. (Now I want to make myself sad. Jiang Xue feelings time.) And he gets a child, eventually. One that calls him Diedie 🥺 Luta is a package deal with his peaceful life in Nanjiang, and is also a "long-term payoff" for his character.

These are Jing Qi's mortal, human troubles and affairs.

Then Jing Qi says:

可畜生不一样，每日操心的不过是活着和吃喝。你养了它, 它平日里看得见的，认得的，也就你一个人。你有外面大千世界三丈红尘，它却只记得你一个人的恩情……

But animals are different; their only worries every day are living, eating, and drinking. If you raise an animal, they will usually only look at and recognize you. There is this great big world of mortal affairs outside, and yet it will remember only your kindness...

(Also, on a tangent, Jing Qi uses 三丈红尘 to refer to the mortal world. Literally means "three zhang of red dust." The "red dust" of the mortal world comes from the poem 《西都赋》 and is talking about dust kicked up from daily life of mortals, from traveling, working, etc. And three zhang because most life is contained within three zhang (like 60 feet) of the ground. Unless you're special and live in the sky, I don't know.)

I imagine Jing Qi is speaking from experience, having been an animal in several of his previous lives. In this context, he is also specifically talking about the sable, as he just asked Ji Xiang if he thinks the sable will still recognize him.

When Jing Qi first meets the sable, the sable's position is very much like his own: holed up in the capital, kept there due to obligation to the nation of Da Qing (poor sable is also a hostage like Wuxi). He immediately terrorizes it, which is very different from Jing Qi promising to burn a fox paper money just after wearing its fur, remembering himself how it felt to be skinned alive in his 5th life. But it doesn't seem that he's too aware of the fact that he is terrorizing it... he claims that all he's done is "love it" and doesn't know why it's afraid of him.

Regardless, the sable is used to being scolded by Wuxi, who is strict with it. So it doesn't bite Jing Qi again, and is very well behaved. When Jing Qi takes it back to his estate, the sabel is far less behaved, and likes to make messes and stress out the household staff... much like Jing Qi himself. But, really, just as Jing Qi said: the sable, though it still loves and misses Wuxi, is now being fed, raised, and cared for by Jing Qi. It has no other concerns, and gets to play and laze about freely.

There's a moment when the sable kills the spy that was placed among Jing Qi's household staff, and Jing Qi is surprised, wondering, "You're really this viscious?" I think there's a case to be made that the sable, much like Jing Qi, can be ruthless, though outwardly does not seem like it. Jing Qi describes the sable as 没良心的 (conscienceless). 良心 (conscience) is also the word that Jing Qi asks Liang Jiuxiao if he knows how to write, and claims that a dog ate his own 良心. Jing Qi and the sable are just 没良心的besties over here.

While Jing Qi spends most of his time in the "mortal world" of Da Qing with too many worries, he eventually comes to be like the sable in other ways: concerned only about living, eating, and drinking, concerned only about one person's kindness. This is also a point in favor of Nanjiang kind of being like the underworld? Jing Qi dies in Da Qing, then lives a peaceful afterlife in Nanjiang, where he is no longer concerned with the great, big 三丈红尘 outside. (+15 Buddhist theme points to Qi Ye.)

Jing Qi fulfills his duties to his nation, dies as a ghost of Da Qing, lets go of his mortal affairs, and is rewarded for it. He gets his peaceful life in Nanjiang, and his worries of humans.

TL;DR, things the sable and post-canon Jing Qi have in common:

Love Wuxi

Loved by Wuxi

Hand fed by Wuxi

Scolded by Wuxi (eat your snake meat, Beiyuan)

No stress about family, friends, elders, juniors

Being ancient (accoording to Liang Jiuxiao)

Disciplined by Wuxi (Luta is traumatized)

没良心的

Get to be carefree and playful and laze about at the end of the novel

Terrorizing servants

[shenjiushandfan]

Finished the first book and ohhhh my god.

First. I find that both these kids...disciples? Middle class god teir bois, respond to "general." Highly sus. It might have been nothing but it sure as hell wasn't written like nothing. If they're who I think they are then they're just as bad at hiding their "true selves" as fucking Hua Cheng is.

Speaking of which this big ducked Magee be trying to act all innocent like "how did you know it was me?" Sir your acting skills are that of a bland potato. everyone knew. Hell, My cat knew and he can't even read.

Moving on the whole "omg this guy is secretly tiny pei" was not what I expected. Like don't get me wrong I knew he was oddly helpful and weirdly ready to die I just didn't expect junior supreme to make another appearance so soon. And like, all this trouble just to cover up a massacre? If he really wanted all this to end he could have just strapped a bunch of explosives on some animals and blown up everything. Not that hard my dude.

I liked wind master and her big tiddie goth girlfriend. She seems very level headed and cool. Also I like characters with fans. Shes like what Shen Qingqiu wishes he could act like.

Finally I want to add that I still dislike Hua Cheng. Don't trust him like AT ALL. fucking ditches in the middle of the night leaving only a pretty bauble? Put that on my, "top ten ways Hua Cheng makes me think of Jin Guangshan." List. How dare you treat trash grampa like an expensive hooker.

Anyway on to the next book 🎉

[fortune-maiden]

No no, don't spare me the 700 words of character rambling. I want to read it. Please?

IF YOU INSIST ANON =D

(admittedly it's closer to 600 words now after editing lol)

(this is partly cyrano au stuff, partly general character ramblings)

OK SO JING WEN.

In canon we don’t really know too much about his motives towards Ling Wen other than he wants to wear her down and destroy her reputation, and this stems from her showing him up in an essay contest. From the revision, we can also add plagiarism to his sins – he knows Ling Wen is more talented than him and despises her for it, especially because she’s a woman. (Although I think her lack of scholarly background also heavily plays into it. She isn't a woman from a family of scholarly officials. She's a shoeseller who writes letters on the side to make ends meet.)

For the Cyrano (but not really Cyrano) AU, I’ve added a layer of lust and entitlement towards his feelings for Ling Wen. He was the one who discovered her! He rescued her from a life in prison and made her a junior heavenly official! People remember her name and her story because of him! He’s her hero!

And he thinks that it’s about time she acts like it! Ling Wen wants to keep her head down and avoid him as much as possible. Do whatever job he wants from her and hope it keeps him in a good enough mood to leave her alone. Except Jing Wen wants to reduce her to the girl who was saved by him and devotes herself to him in return. It drives him crazy that she does not, and would even dare to get close to other men (PM & SWD) when she treats him (him!) with barely concealed contempt. He discovered her! She was no one before him and he is the only one who can have her! (and her talents!)

This is meant to contrast this AU’s Shi Wudu who also discovers her hidden talent when he exposes Jing Wen's plagiarism (mostly by accident) and immediately falls for her brain and wants to see what she can do with it when she isn’t tied down by Jing Wen and his ego. He finds her interesting, a match for himself (one of two people he’ll acknowledge as such), and rather than save her, he wants to give her the tools she needs to save herself because it’s much more fun for him that way. (This is also the real reason Bai Jing is not in this AU, because he treats Ling Wen with genuine kindness and doesn’t have any kind of pedestal or expectations in return and I think given everything she has been through at that point, that genuineness would be more attractive to Ling Wen over someone who wants to make a girlboss out of her. If there’s no BJ to compare against, I think LW would be a little more receptive to SWD’s feelings.) (Although both are interesting to think about.) (Also on a sidenote, even in AUs where he isn’t explicitly in love with her like this one, my SWD always ends up a bit of a dogged nice guy towards LW, ready to do anything she asks. This is partly because she helped him with the fate swap, and partly because he REALLY values her friendship. There’s a bit of a second-love aspect to their relationship from Ling Wen’s side because she knows SWD feelings towards her but it’s not the same love that BJ made her feel.)

And also because I just like talking about him, Jing Wen’s possessiveness and refusal to be shown up by a woman also kinda contrasts Pei Ming a bit, since he’s also a traditionalist and believes the guy should save the girl (and would be pushing SWD in that direction in his pseudo-cyrano role), but he’s also capable of acknowledging that if that doesn’t win her love, it doesn’t win her love (not that that’s ever been an issue for him personally) – and if a woman shows you up, the solution is to Do Better and show off properly to her later (this is him with the Rain Master. Anytime she gets the better of him, he sulks for a bit and then sets out to show her how cool he actually is. He wants her acknowledgment!)

[bookofjin]

Biography of Zhou Fu (JS061)

Fu, courtesy name Zuxuan, was Jun's junior cousin. His father Rui was Grand Warden of Anping. Fu as young was equally famous as his friend Chenggong Jian, they rose from their families together to become literary teachers for the various kings. He amassed to move to Aide for Western Dependants to the Minister over the Masses. The Minister over the Masses Wang Hun petitioned:

Fu's reasoning and understanding is clear and straight, he also has talent and ability and is a master at deciding the Nine Grades, his examinations pull to together essentials and details. Your Subject entrust and rely on his duties' fulfilment, his praise and blame being apt and fitting, and request he fill the vacancy of Gentleman of the Masters of Writing.

Allowed it.

Bit by bit he moved to Senior Clerk of the Left to the Minister over the Masses and Gentleman of the Personnel Section. His selections and recommendations were essential and compact, and discussions on his prospects increasingly commendable. He shifted to Central Assistant to the Steering Clerk and Attendant-at-Centre, and was designated Inspector of Xu province, concurrently General of the Best of the Army, Acting with the Tally. He was summoned to be Commandant of Justice.

Emperor Hui favoured Ye, and the King of Chengdu, Ying, used Fu as Interim Governor of Henan. Li Zhen, Shangguan Si, and others offered the King of Qinghe, Tan, to be Heir-Apparent, and promoted Fu to General of Guards, Recording the Masters of Writing. Fu declined and did not accept. Tan ordered Fu to combine armies with Shangguan Si. Fu understood that Si was a small person who indulged in brutality and in the end would be a traitor to the state. He therefore together with the Minister of Personnel Man Fen and others planned to together remove him. The plan leaked, and they were assailed by Si. Fen was murdered but Fu fled and managed to escape.

When Si was defeated by Zhang Fang, [he] summoned Fu to return and adminster as Governor of Henan, and when the King of Donhai, Yue, welcomed the Great Carriage, he used Ying as [General who] Leads the Army of the Centre. He had not yet gone when he moved to Colonel Minister of Personnel, concurrently Cavalier Regular Attendant, Acting with the Tally, Chief Controller of the Various Army Affairs at Mianchi.

When the Emperor returned to the palace, he set out to be General who Pacifies the East, Chief Controller of the Various Army Affairs of Yang province. He replaced Liu Zhun as General who Garrisons the East, and together with Zhou Ji and others he chastised Chen Min, wiping him out. For his merits he was ennobled Earl of Yongning.

Fu, who himself had gone through the mishaps of the era, always wished to safeguard and rectify the court's changes, his loyal feelings were sincere in the extreme. Since the King of Donghai, Yue, had not fully the steadfastness of a subject, he always told his opinion sharply. Yue deeply dreaded him. Fu observed the crowds of traitors were a blazing fire and that Luoyang was isolated and imperilled. He therefore built a strategy to welcome the Son of Heaven and move the capital to Shouchun. 4th Year of Yongjia [310 AD], he and Senior Clerk Wu Si and Marshal Yan Shi sent up a letter which said:

[We] did not consider the difficult cycle would carry on until this point! The Rong and Di invade one after the other, and the capital domain is imperilled and pressured. Your Subject on his own together with Zu Na, Pei Xian, Hua Tan, Sun Hui, and others, 30 people, humbly thought of a great plan. In all instances, as the people of Yin had the affairs of frequent moves, and the King of Zhou had the move of Qi Mountain, just now the royal capital is emptied, depleted and not possible to dwell in for long, north of the He is barren and bleak and Yao [mountain] and Han [valley] are hazardous and rugged, the Wan capital has frequently fallen and the Jiang-Han area has many troubles, at present in the flatlands the south-east is the better. The land of Huai-Yang to the north is blocked off by Tu Mountain, to the south is shielded by the Ling Peak, and famous rivers surround it in four directions, they have the strength of important defiles. This is why the people of Chu when they moved east thereupon took refuge at Shouchun. Xu, Pi and Donghai also are sufficiently defended and secure. Moreover canal transportation connects it in four directions, and there are no worries of deprivation and depletion.

Although the sagely sovereign is divinely astute, the primary supporters worthy and bright, dwelling frugally and defending restraint, and employed in guarding the ancestral temples, it is not as good as assessing the terrain and moving location, and so relish in eternal fortune. Your Subject has carefully selected 30 000 finest soldiers to serve in welcoming the august carriage. [I] on my own have called to arms the former Commander of Central Gentlemen of the North, Pei Xian, to act as Envoy Holding the Tally, Overseer of the Various Army Affairs of Yu province, and Commander of the Central Gentlemen of the East to swift as the wind proceed forthwith. Jing, Xiang, Jiang, Yang should each first transport the 4th Year's grain tax, 150 000 hu, and cloth and tabby silk, 140 000 bolts each, to provide for the great carriage. [I] have ordered Wang Jun and Gou Xi together to pacify north of the He, Your Subject and others will join forces to open the southern road. To move the capital and stop the robbers, these plans are both obtainable.

When the August Conveyance comes on tour, Your Subject ought to move to occupy Jiang province, to expand the royal boundaries. Knowing there is nothing [they] would not do is what the ancients applied themselves to do. [I] dare to be utterly loyal and sincere, in the hope of repaying one ten-thousandth. In the morning to succeed and in the evening to fall is still the ambition of a lifetime.

Yue was not in concord with Gou Xi, and Fu did not first inform Yue but straight away sent up the letter, and Yue was greatly angered. Before this, Yue summoned FU and the Grand Warden of Huainan, Pei Shou, but Fu was not willing to travel and he ordered Shou to lead the troops and advance first. Shou was disloyal to Fu and therefore raised up troops, claiming Fu instructed him on his own initiative. He had already received Yue's secret directive to plot against Fu. He then assaulted him but was defeated by Fu. Shuo withdrew to guard Dongcheng and sought help from Emperor Yuan. The Emperor dispatched the General who Spreads Power, Gan Zhuo, and the General who Establishes Power, Guo Yi, to attack Fu at Shouchun. The Grand Warden of Anfeng, Sun Hui, led a multitude in response to them, and had Xie Chi make a call to arms. Chi was Fu's former general. When Fu saw the call to arms, he, with tears flowing, said:

Surely it is Xie Chi's expressions.

Chi heard about it, and thereupon destroyed the draft. After ten days, Fu's multitudes dispersed and he ran to Xiang. He was seized by the King of Xincai, Que, The anxious frustration brought illness and he passed.

Earlier, at Hua Tan's loss of Lujiang, he went to Shouchun to rely on Fu. When Fu's army was defeated, he turned back to Emperor Yuan. The Emperor asked him, saying:

How did Zhou Zuxuan end up in rebellion?

Tan replied, saying:

Though Zhou Fu is dead, Under Heaven still has gentlemen of upright speech. Fu saw the robbers and traitors grow like vines, and the kingly power not being stirred. For that reason he wished to move the capital to loosen the state's difficulties. The elders of the regions were not of the same mind which consequently brought about their attack. Not even a season had gone past when the imperial capital was lost. If they had made to follow Fu's plan, in some cases it could have delayed the fall. Tracking back the circumstances and seeking the reality, how could he have been a rebel!

The Emperor said:

Fu held rank among [the Generals who] Conquer and Garrison. He held tight his troops in a corner of the region, when summoned he did not come, and during the danger he did not take care of it. He is also a criminal Under Heaven.

Tan said:

That is so. Fu shook his tassel at the central court and had a long standing reputation for exceptional intellect. He set out to occupy the peaks of a region and truly had the weight of special burdens. Yet lofty strategies were not lifted up, he from time to time neglected harmony, and during the danger he did not take care of it. He must together with Under Heaven accept his blame. However, to speak of him as a rebel, is it not also false!

The Emperor's thoughts started to open up.

Fu had two sons, Mi and Jiao. Mi, courtesy name Taixuan, was by nature unassuming and plain. At the time people declared him a pure scholar. His rank reached Gentleman of the Masters of Writing. Jiao, courtesy name Zhengxuan, also had talent and ability.

Chenggong Jian, courtesy name Zongshu, was a native of Dong commandery. His family had for generations been Two Thousand Shi officials. He was by nature simple and plain, did not seek glory and profit, and immersed his heart in savouring the Way, there was nothing which interfered with his aspirations. His soundless understanding was beyond other people. Zhang Maoxian always said:

Jian's pure serenity is comparable to Yang Ziyun, his soundless understanding imitates Zhang Anshi.

Later he became Gentleman of the Central Writers. At the time Fu had already become Colonel Minister of Personnel, and moved to General who Garrisons the East. Jian, since he himself, though his talent was lofty, yet was positioned below Fu, spoke to Fu, saying:

Yang Xiong was a Gentleman for three generations without being moved, and yet Wang Mang and Dong Xian ranked among the Three Ministers. Past and present follow the same principles, and that is all.

Fu was very ashamed of it. His official position reached Central Retainer to the Heir-Apparent and Cavalier Regular Attendant. At the end of Yongjia, he ran to Gou Xi, and was lost together with Xi.

[Zhang Maoxian = Zhang Hua. Yang Ziyun = Yang Xiong (53 BC – 18 AD).]

[circus-complex]

Glass Mind | Chapter 4/?

Rating: Teen +

Relationships: Feng Xin/Mu Qing

Characters: Feng Xin, Mu Qing

Tags: feng xin falls ill, Canon-typical swearing, mu qing has to care for him, Febuwhump 2024, Slow Burn, Feng Xin and Mu Qing are slightly OOC, Fluff and Angst, Fluff, Angst

Feng Xin falls ill, messing with his head. Mu Qing tasks himself with taking care of him. Does Mu Qing truly hate Feng Xin?

Also on AO3

Full chapter under the cut

Mu Qing had started meditating an hour ago. When he opened his eyes again, Feng Xin was still scribbling away. Feng Xin had moved away from the floor, now writing on the walls. The floor looked like a murder scene, haphazard writing unevenly spaced, blurring together and glaring at Mu Qing. The only open space was around him. He studied the characters. Trying to pick out what Feng Xin wrote was a headache. It was definitely just two characters, but he couldn’t figure out which.

On one, he picked out the 日 radical, as well as  艹. On the second, he saw 忄and 月. But everything else was a mess. On some, radicals were enlarged and took up the entire word. 

Mu Qing moved to stand. He inched towards the exit. Careful not to step on any of the writing, he slowly opened the door. Feng Xin still didn’t notice him, and he slipped out. Once in the hallway, he stopped the first attendant he could see. 

“Has Ling Wen figured out what caused,” He gestured to the mess on the floor, “this?”

“No sir, but we suspect he had been dealing with this for a while.”

Mu Qing tilted his head in confusion.

“Some junior officials have been reporting strange behavior on and off the last couple of decades. But nobody had reported anything this bad.”

For the last couple decades? Mu Qing thought back to all their fights, but he couldn’t remember a time Feng Xin acted like this. It was always punches thrown, kicks hurled, bites landed. Never once did Feng Xin complain of delusions. 

Did Xie Lian know? Had Feng Xin just…hidden this from him? Did he not trust Mu Qing? 

“- Wen is still looking into any ghosts that could have caused this.”

“What?”

The attendant sighed, “We don’t know if it’s a curse or not, but Ling Wen is still looking for a ghost that could have caused Feng Xin’s psychosis.”

“Hm. Who is managing Feng Xin’s palace in the meantime?”

The attendant averted his gaze, “Well…you’re supposed to but…”

“But what?!”

“No one wanted to ask you”

Mu Qing was shocked. No one wanted to ask him? Why? Did his own deputies know? 

“Who said I should lead the palace of Nan Yang?”

“General Nan Yang”

A headache was starting to form between Mu Qing's eyes. Feng Xin would be better off leaving this to Pei Ming, or even Lang Qianqiu. Inwardly, he was crying, filled with questions and no answers. Outwardly he said:

“Thank you. What is your name?”

The attendant blinked in surprise. General Xuan Zhen, asking for his name?

“My name is Li Junlan.”

“Very well.”

Mu Qing turned on his heel. He needed to sort his thoughts out. He swiftly left the palace, walking to his own and ignoring everyone else. 

✦✦✦

Feng Xin didn’t trust him enough to tell him he was dealing with delusions, for years, yet he trusted Mu Qing with his domain. He didn’t know who Mu Qing was anymore. Had it gotten this bad before? How had Feng Xin coped? 

What if Feng Xin didn’t get better this time? What if he remained in this state? What if he forgot the centuries of rivalry? What if he was…kind to Mu Qing?

[deathfavor]

No one asked for this but i really want to talk about why this song is so good for LIng Wen.

I came up from nothing / the streets were my playground / i belong to the city / And was raised on the stakes I claimed.

   Ling Wen did not grow up wealthy or even middle class. While growing up , the kingdom of Xuli was already in an extreme situation of unease. Many people weren’t in great positions, poverty and conflict had greatly escalated. As the civil gods CONSTANTLY bring up with Ling Wen as an insult, she was a shoe seller on the streets when she was mortal. Not even with a shop , but on the streets. She came from nothing in many respects. No family honor, an absent father ( she doesn’t know if he died or left and never bothered to check ), and a mother that abandoned herself for the sake of trying to get a husband from any man that showed interest. There was a lot of her barely scraping by and being resourceful on the streets and lower sections of town. Surviving was based on the stakes they made and risks they took, both literally in regards to streets like those performers that Feng Xin and Xie Lian encountered in their banishment, and to what Ling Wen claimed as her own. For example, she was also famous for writing letters, sonnets, and general scribe work for other people , even the wealthy. That was her claim , her stakes. Women WEREN'T supposed to do that in her time. It's also why she's still the ONLY female civil god and a big reason why the other civil gods hate her. ( As discussed some in this post )

I’ll talk about this later in the post or another post, but this fact she came from nothing also plays a large part in why she pushes so hard in what she does, because she has ALWAYS had so much against her.

I let the rumor turn me into a legend. A good myth is hard to kill.

This phrase has multiple meanings and times it is applicable. First, as a mortal. Ling Wen wrote the piece of literature that beat the (at the time) #1 literature god ( even if no one knew at the time because he was disguised as a human to compete). HER piece in that competition was a political piece that basically ripped apart the Kingdom of Xuli, her kingdom. She submitted it anonymously, but one of of her clients recognized the style and ratted her out, which led her to be thrown in jail. Naturally this caused rumors to explode. A woman competed in the competition AND she won AND she did it while opposing the kingdom. Of course people were going to talk. And it certainly made her a story and legend in people’s eyes even before she was brought up to be a middle official. At the heart of the matter, it doesn't matter if you're the hero or a villain. If you're a famous enough rumor, you become a legend. And those are hard to kill.

   Even after she fully ascended, she had and still does have plenty of rumors about her. I’ve said it plenty of times , but females make up a very small population of the Heavens according to TGCF ( and many stories in the belief themselves ). As far as we know, Ling Wen might be the only fully ascended female civil god, as juniors/middles aren't quite there yet. As Ling Wen became rose and became the top civil god , many gods and humans made accusations that she seduced her way to the top. She absolutely did NOT, but many men felt threatened by a woman in higher position of power than they were. Even within her own palace there’s rumors and insults about her when they think she doesn’t hear or know ( but she does - even Hua Cheng makes mention that Ling Wen has eyes and ears everywhere). It’s what led to many of her followers on earth changing her stories and statues to being a man and why her male form is stronger but she can’t retain it as long since its not her real form. However, there ARE still places that worship her female form , especially since there was the play about Ling Wen and Pei Ming at the banquet. As she says “ People will talk. “ No matter what she does , because she’s a woman , because she’s in essentially the highest spot besides the emperor , people will talk with rumors or insults no matter what. But at the same time , that just keeps her around..

WHICH leads to the point on Jing Wen. Ling Wen completely destroyed him. Both literally in terms of causing his downfall and hundreds of years destroying the last pieces of him , but his stories. People forgot there was a literature god before Ling Wen despite the fact Jing Wen had once been well established. Even XIE LIAN forgot Jing Wen had ever existed despite Jing Wen being the reigning god when Xie Lian first ascended. But Jing Wen's myth , his legacy , wasn’t good enough because she destroyed him in a matter of weeks , maybe a couple months at most. People may have controversy over her , but all those rumors just solidify her place in legends. SHE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN. And THAT is the lifeblood for gods and goddesses. It’s why people still debate over if Lucifer is heroic or a coward in Paradise Lost or how people feel about Guinevere in Arthurian legends or if Beowulf is good or not. To this day people still argue over it. The same thing is happening with Ling Wen and as a literature goddess , as much as some may frustrate her , ultimately it benefits in the long run.

The odds are stacked against me / I keep my cards close to my chest.

   Short paragraph for this because I talked about a lot it above. She’s a woman in a male-dominated society. Of course the odds are stacked against her. It’s what has driven her so hard to push so hard for what she wants. She keeps all her skills close to her chest. Another line related to this is ‘ I have a way of find out their sins and secrets / bringing them to their knees. ‘ which is very applicable for Ling Wen. She CREATED the communication arrays , she knows people’s sins and secret and she holds them close to her because she can bring them down when she chooses. ( Headcanon related to that  HERE  )

Why do I need friends when I’ve got plenty of enemies.

Again , covered on earlier. The Civil gods explicitly HATE Ling Wen. Even her own palace has men saying they could do better if given the chance ( spoiler alert : they don’t , not even anywhere close. Everything falls apart the moment she's not there ) Her own god group hates her , she doesn’t get along with the goddesses , its only the martial gods that welcome her and embrace her. And among them her only real friends are Shi Wudu and Pei Ming. Even that wasn’t planned or expected. Ling Wen doesn’t NEED friends to succeed , she’s proven that. She's proven a willingness to sacrifice. She is just fine enjoying proving her haters wrong. But she does like having her boys.

The world owes me a debt / and now I’ve come to collect /  so don’t get in my way.

Listen the world has had it out for he , mortal or goddess. But it doesn’t matter to her, because Ling Wen will continues to climb opposition and reach higher no matter who tries to stop. But sometimes she does show up to collect, be it from blackmail on information she knows to force someone to obey, or to simply call in a few favors. The real important to her is don’t get in my way.

She will tear you down and kick you out of her way. With maybe 2 or 3 exceptions , Ling Wen has no problems with crushing someone or flat out removing them if they’re in her way. After all, she’s heartless as she says. She doesn’t care. She does what she needs to to succeed. Even those exceptions she can confront like being on the enemy’s side if its best for HER. Albeit she will not go to the same extremes for those exceptions that she would for anyone else. As a person though ? Getting in Ling Wen’s way is a VERY BAD spot to be. You think she won’t kill you or bring your ruin ? Cute. She will. And she will do it without hesitation or remorse.

By the time you’ve figured out the rules I broke / I’ve already won the game.

This ties into the last section. Ling Wen is EXTREMELY intelligent , cunning , and ruthless. In the case of Jing Wen’s downfall , he didn’t realize what was happening until it was far , far too late. She’d literally already won. In the case of the Brocade Immortal , NO ONE realized it was her initially. It was her secret till it eventually got out. But by then she already has the Brocade Immortal and was carving her way to success ( and in some ways had because she took down the whole communications array in the Heavens and sent everyone into disarray. THAT'S how essential she is, she's made HERSELF into the heart of the game board basically. ).

Basically, if you are an enemy of Ling Wen, you won't realize anything until its too late. She doesn't play fair but she plays smart, and rewrites the rules to her own will.

[booksannotated]

Heaven Official's Blessing Book 1 (Chapter 11)

Heaven Official's Blessing Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Chapter 11 annotations.

Pg 356

" "First, that I came specifically for Your Royal Highness; second, that I was passing by and was free. Which do you think is more believable."

My dude, after everything you've done, You went specifically to find Xie Lian. Which means, you either knew him before like a long time ago, or you're curious about something else.

Pg 359

" "Although Kemo always said scornfully that I had my mind possessed, that I had been completely used, whether General Pei Junior used me or not, I know it was my own will to open the city gates." "

I feel so bad for Ban Yue. I know in pretty much her entire chapter I didn't have many comments to make, but her character is just so good. I love her.

Pg 364

"... a god and ghost could still lie together on a crappy mat, laughing and chatting."

THEY ARE SO CUUUTTTEEE

Pg 365

" "Cant' stand his face." "

Hua Cheng is very passionate about his Qi Rong hatred. Oh my god. LOL

Pg 372

"And dangling from the chain, there was a crystal clear ring."

PUT A RING ON HIS FINGER. (Around his neck.)

[hasufin]

Okay, so silly fandom thing for Heavenly Official’s Blessing, but I’m legit wondering who sent the puppet to Xie Lian’s temple from Half-Moon Pass.

That set off an entire story arc, but at the time Xie Lian didn’t really consider he had any special connection to the situation there (which, honestly, makes sense - we’re talking literally centuries, and his time there was only a few years. Sure it was a big deal to the people he affected, but it’s sort of the benevolent equivalent of “But for me, it was Tuesday”. Which feels kind of cold, but it’s just a perspective thing.)

So. Someone sent a puppet to attack him, and did so basically the moment he began publicly having a temple. It’s established that this kind of puppet takes considerable skill, but it was relatively easy to defeat.

So, it was sent by someone who:

- Is very magically skilled

- Specifically intended it for Xie Lian

- Knew when and where Xie Lian opened his temple

I’m not sure about intent. Whoever sent it may have believed it would be able to defeat Xie Lian. This was demonstrably false, and besides the presence of San Lang pretty much entirely precluded success. So either they wanted to kill Xie Lian and did not know enough about him or their own abilities to realize that wasn’t happening, or they did not imagine it would succeed and simply wanted to get his attention without exposing themselves. I’m inclined to believe the latter, because it’s a very tiny window of “knows exactly where Xie Lian is” but also “has no clue that a puppet has no chance against a deity”.

So let’s think who might have sent it.

General Pei Junior - Well, he likely has the ability to create such a puppet, and is crafty enough to send proxies. Though a puppet isn’t quite his apparent style. He also knew about the connection between Xie Lian and the Half-Moon Kingdom. As a martial deity, one would think he’s realize a puppet wouldn’t be successful, and I think he was aware of Hua Cheng. So I think he’d realize such an attempt was pointless. More importantly, he very specifically did not want to draw attention to the situation at Half-Moon Pass.

General Kee Mo - Unlike Pei Jr., Kee Mo would probably want to draw heavenly attention. I’m not sure if he’d think Xie Lian would be helpful - he immediately pegged Xie Lian as being from Yong’An, which isn’t quite true, but is also telling of Kee Mo’s limited perspective. I’m not sure he’d even think of seeking outside help; he;s basically caught in his own nightmare of sustaining his soldiers and punishing those he believes are responsible. There’s also no indication he has the skill or strength to manage a puppet anyway.

Ban Yue - she seems to have the ability to manage advanced magical formations, and would want to draw attention to the situation. Unlike Kee Mo, Ban Yue is demonstrably able to think outside the box. I could see her trying to call on a heavenly official. However, like Kee Mo I think she’s stuck in the situation. I am skeptical that she would attack someone in that way, though, and she didn’t seem to have connected Xie Lian with her General Hua until much later. So for her to have been the creator of the puppet, we have to assume she - a person who is established as not being aggressive - heard about an unknown heavenly official living in the mortal realm who was actually solving problems and decided the best thing to do would be to attack them. Seems kind of a stretch.

Fu Yao or Nan Feng - as a minor deity, I believe they might have the ability. Their actual motives are mostly unknown - I get the impression they were sent partially out of a low-level loyalty to Xie Lian from their respective generals, and partially as competition with each other. What is suspicions is that they both suddenly showed up right when Xie Lian decided to investigate Half-Moon Pass. Also, Fu Xao was notably absent from the pit, which is kind of suspicious. definitely some questions there, but nothing that firmly points to either of them as the perpetrator.

Hua Cheng - he definitely has the ability, and seemingly knew most of what happened. It seems to me that he is interested in cleaning up outstanding issues with dangerous ghosts. That might serve as a motivation, but using a puppet like that just seems off for him.

Which brings us to the person I’m suspecting:

Shi Qingxuan, the Master of Air. She basically showed up at the end as a Deus ex Machina, and was familiar with the entire story. We also saw her (and I think the Master of Earth?) early on when they reached Half-Moon Pass. So she’s involved, but we really don’t know how. She’s powerful - powerful enough that Hua Cheng is wary of her, so she could certainly manage the puppet. She took credit for the storm, which incidentally brought them together with the caravan - she claimed she was trying to keep them away from Half-Moon Pass, but I’m not at all sure I believe her. My suspicion is that she was aware of General Pei Jr’s actions, but as a very high-ranking member of the Heavenly Court she couldn’t investigate directly without arousing suspicion. I think she used the puppet to bring Xie Lian into the situation, thus drawing Pei Jr out, and therefore giving herself an excuse to intercede.

‘course, I bet someone who is more familiar with Donghua would either immediately recognize who did it, or would see that within this narrative structure we’re not supposed to care.